Ronald Paquin, a defrocked Catholic priest at the center of the Boston archdiocese clergy abuse scandal depicted in the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, died in custody on 11 September at age 83. Paquin had been imprisoned since 2019 after being convicted of additional abuse charges in Maine, where he had molested a young altar server named Keith Townsend between 1985 and 1989.
Townsend, now 52, came forward with allegations in 2016 after learning that Paquin had been released from his initial Massachusetts sentence in 2015. A Maine grand jury indicted Paquin in 2017 on charges related to Townsend and another individual. Following a jury trial in November 2018, Paquin was convicted of abusing Townsend but acquitted of abusing the other person. Judge Wayne Douglas sentenced Paquin to 16 additional years in prison in May 2019. Paquin was incarcerated at Mountain View correctional facility in Charleston, Maine, at the time of his death.
In an interview following Paquin’s death, Townsend expressed hope that the outcome would provide closure to victims and encourage them to persist in their recovery efforts. He described overcoming substance abuse addiction and building a family life following the trauma he experienced. Townsend stated his motivation for pursuing prosecution was protecting children from further harm and preventing Massachusetts authorities’ decision to release Paquin from allowing additional abuse to occur.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represented numerous abuse survivors and is portrayed in Spotlight by Stanley Tucci, noted that the film’s depiction of Paquin’s crimes provided validation to survivors by demonstrating they were not alone in their experiences. Townsend expressed gratitude for increased awareness of Paquin’s actions, stating that securing his imprisonment “saved lives.” The case is part of the broader clergy abuse scandal that prompted the resignation of Boston’s Archbishop Bernard Law in late 2002 and subsequent policy reforms across the U.S. Catholic Church.
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