Aurora, IL - Joseph J. Charron, a Monk at Marmion Academy, Known as “Brother Andre,” Facing Eight Counts of Sex Abuse

Student Sexually Abused at Private Catholic School

According to ABC Chicago, a former student has accused a monk of sexual abuse at the Marmion Academy for boys located at 1000 Butterfield Rd, Aurora, IL 60502. 

Police received a statement from a former student about the alleged abuse back in September 2021. The victim claimed that he was abused by the 66-year-old monk Joseph J. Charron while a student at the Roman Catholic high school for boys. The sexual abuse spanned over 15 years, even after the boy had graduated. 

Charron, also known as “Brother Andre,” lived on the academy's campus at Benedictine Abbey. He turned himself into the police on April 27, 2022. The monk has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation and is barred from returning to the campus. He is facing eight counts of sex abuse, including three charges of criminal sexual force, three charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (sexual conduct by a person in a position of authority of a victim under 18), and two charges of criminal sexual abuse (non-consensual sexual conduct).

Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse in Catholic Schools

Attorney contributor Brian Kent fights for justice for victims of sex abuse by filing civil lawsuits. As an experienced attorney for school sexual abuse, he often represents victims of abuse in Catholic schools. Brian offered some useful information for victims sexually abused at a Catholic preparatory school. 

"The safety of the Catholic school's students should be the main concern for school officials. Too often lately, we see reports of sexual predators working within Catholic schools. These predators frequently take positions that may include teachers and monks, allowing them to exploit their positions of power and trust to abuse vulnerable children."

"We find that many times the school could have prevented the abuse if they had upheld their legal duty to provide proper security measures. These could include maintaining functioning security cameras, frequent security sweeps on campus, and conducting background checks for all employees. A full investigation should follow if a monk or teacher is charged with sexually abusing a student. In addition to the police investigating the perpetrator, the authorities should also investigate any third parties for safety negligence. This could include the Catholic school or even the diocese. If a third party is proved to be negligent, they could be held liable in a lawsuit."

"Moreover, if a school ignored past complaints of misconduct by a school employee, they could be held accountable for failing to prevent further abuse. In negligence cases, the victim and their family could have sufficient grounds to file a lawsuit against the school or diocese. Victims and their families can learn more about their legal options by speaking with an experienced attorney for school sexual abuse."

Sources:

ABC Chicago