Father David Pichette
Ordained: 1967
Removed: 2005
Assigned as follows:
- >St. Patrick (Truxton, NY)
- >Bishop Ludden High School (Syracuse, NY)
- >Seton Catholic High School (Binghamton, NY)
- >Blessed Sacrament (Johnson City, NY)
- >St. Margaret (Mattydale, NY)
- >St. Patrick (Binghamton, NY)
- >St. Ambrose (Endicott, NY)
- >Nazareth Farm (Center Point, W.VA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father David Pichette:
According to media reports, in May 2011, a Kentucky man held a press conference in front of the Diocese of Syracuse to accuse Father David Pichette, a former priest, of abusing him.
The victim said the abuse happened in 1981, when he was a volunteer at Nazareth Farm, a church-run camp in West Virginia. He said Father Pichette fondled him on two occasions and made other sexual advances. He was 17 years old at the time.
In his statement, the man accused Father Pichette, the director of the camp, of fondling him on two occasions - one time waking him up at night and another time while he was changing - inside a rustic barn where men and boys slept. On other occasions, the man said Father Pichette talked about his private parts and asked him to pull down his pants while bathing in a river.
"It was a very traumatic experience because, in my opinion, it was the height of mistrust and abuse of power," the man said.
The Diocese of Syracuse said Father Pichette's privileges were removed in 1993. He was dismissed from the clerical state in 2005. He was among 32 priests in the diocese who were removed as part of the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Father David Pichette's name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Syracuse's list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors, published in December 2018.
His name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston's list in late 2018. It noted he left the diocese in September 1988 and left the Diocese of Syracuse in 1994.
Pichette now lives in Florida in the North Miami area.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Syracuse in New York. The Diocese of Syracuse filed for federal bankruptcy protection in June 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Syracuse may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Syracuse will never be able to take any legal action if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.