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November 26, 2009

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Lawsuit filed against priest, diocese

Kim Smith

Wednesday, March 13, 2002 | 11:20 a.m.

The parents of six young men who claim they were molested by a Henderson priest have filed a lawsuit against the priest and the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas.

The lawsuit filed Monday in District Court claims the Rev. Mark Roberts took advantage of the boys because they were young, "vulnerable, confused and very religious."

Because of their youth and because they put such trust and faith into Roberts as their "counselor, priest and educator," they were not able to contest or consent to his actions, the lawsuit states.

Until his suspension in February, Roberts served at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 204 S. Boulder Highway in Henderson.

Attempts to reach a diocese spokesman this morning were unsuccessful.

Investigators for Henderson Police are expected to meet with prosecutors soon to discuss the possibility of filing criminal charges against Roberts.

Also named in the lawsuit are Bishops Joseph Pepe and Daniel Walsh, both of whom, the lawsuit states, knew Roberts was "engaging in a course of conduct which was sexually, mentally, emotionally and physically abusive" to the plaintiffs.

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