Father William Wert
Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Carmelites)
Ordained: 1986
Laicized: 2007
Assigned as follows:
- 1987-1988 Crespi Carmelite High School (Encino, CA)
- 1989-1993 Carmelites St. Elias Priory (Joliet, IL)
- 1990-1993 Joliet Catholic High School (Joliet, IL)
- 1994-1999 Crespi Carmelite High School (Encino, CA)
- 2000-2001 Mt. Carmel High School (Chicago, IL)
- 2002-2007 Unknown
- 2007 Arrested; unknown
- 2007-2011 (Venice, FL)
- 2011-2020 Arrested; sentenced to life in prison
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father William Wert:
Father William Wert, was a member of the Carmelite Order, who served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. and spent most of his career as an educator. According to media reports, he was arrested in 2007 in Washington D.C. for allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and five years’ probation. The Order then transferred him to a church-owned retirement home in Venice, Florida and banned him from ministry following his 2007 sentencing.
The Diocese of Venice was not notified about his presence or conviction, and the retirement home was located just four blocks from Epiphany Cathedral and its school. In 2011, Father Wert was again arrested for allegedly repeatedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. He reportedly went on a website for gay teens. They exchanged phone numbers, which led to sexual encounters at various locations including the priest’s Venice home, a vacant house, a wooded area and a motel room from September 2010 to January 2011.
Father Wert was named in a civil lawsuit filed in 2011. In 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison. In 2018, his name was included on Archdiocese of Los Angeles List Updated list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
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