A P.E.I. Roman catholic priest is accused of sexual offences against a minor and is expected to be back in court in February.
Maurice Joseph Praught, 70 years of age, of Stratford, P.E.I. had his case called briefly in Summerside on Dec. 21, 2022. Where it had been quickly deferred until Feb. 8, 2023, due to the crown and defence needing more time to review the court documents.
Maurice is currently facing three counts of sexual assault and six counts of sexual exploitation. Each one of the charges is related to the same male victim, who had reportedly been 14 year old at the time that the offences started. These incidents allegedly took place between 1993 and 1997 in Summerside area.
There is currently a publication ban in place regarding information that could lead to the identity of the victim.
The Summerside Police Services had begun their investigation after the Diocese of Charlottetown reported the alleged incidents in May. The diocese indicated to the police at the time of reporting the offences that the priest had already been removed from his duties.
Your Legal Options After Sexual or Institutional Abuse
At Wagners, we’ve met survivors of sexual or institutional abuse who find it extremely difficult to share their experiences, even with a lawyer. We have a team that is professional and compassionate so you can rely on their experience to explain your legal options and provide the assistance you need to fight for your fair compensation. Abuse survivors can trust us to use the information they share to ensure the person or institution responsible are brought to justice. We take the time to evaluate the specifics of your case and advise on the best legal option to help you receive the monetary compensation you need to recover from the abuse you endured.
File criminal charges: If you take this option, you will not get monetary compensation. Investigations will be done, and the accused will be arrested if sufficient evidence is found. If the defendant is found guilty, he or she could face punishment like imprisonment.
Civil lawsuit: In this case, we pursue the case on behalf of the survivor in civil court. If found at fault, the assailant will be required to pay monetary compensation, which would assist the survivor to recover from the abuse.
Class action lawsuit: It is also possible to file a class action lawsuit against an assailant who assaulted several people. The group of survivors can come together to collectively file a class action suit against the person or institution that was responsible for the assault or abuse.
Compensation
At Wagners, we firmly believe that no amount of compensation can eliminate the pain and suffering that your assailant caused, but there is so much good that comes from a successfully resolved institutional or sexual abuse claim. As a survivor, the monetary compensation you receive can assist you to recover from the abuse and cater to the medical costs involved. Holding the assailant accountable also restores your dignity and encourages other victims of sexual and institutional abuse to come out and seek justice as well.
The amount of compensation you deserve for your sexual or institutional abuse claim will depend on many factors. Some of these factors include:
How the abuse affected your ability to support yourself and make sufficient income
The type of medical treatment you need or you have sought due to the abuse
The personal or unique circumstances of your lawsuit
We know that sexual or institutional abuse is a terrible experience, and many victims usually have a heavy burden that they are likely to carry for a long time. For this reason, we offer reliable legal assistance that you need to get the monetary burden off your shoulders. Our main goal is to build a strong strategy and successfully fight for your rights.