New Mexico Sexual Abuse
Many people have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of someone they trusted. Most of us are familiar with cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church due to several media publicized cases of priest sexual abuse, but church sex scandals are just one example of an issue that affects many in New Mexico. New Mexico sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. In New Mexico, Wayne Bent, the leader of the Lord of Righteousness Church, was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing and underage religious follower. Speaking out about sexual abuse is important in two ways: It can stop the abuser from hurting others and it helps bring a sense of closure for the victim. Speaking out can feel intimidating, but you and your loved ones are not alone. Lawyers such as Sam Rogatinsky specialize in helping you find your voice in court.
Sexual Abuse
Unlike clergy abuse, sexual abuse can be perpetrated by anyone and occur anywhere. The most common places for sexual abuse to occur are schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, group homes, and organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Countless children have been sexually abused in New Mexico by those who were entrusted with their care, such as teachers, Boy Scout leaders, camp counselors, and so on. These adults are supposed to protect children, but instead cause them harm, such as Robert H. Ashley, an elementary school teacher in Albuquerque, who secretly videotaped female students.
Adults are also sexually abused. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over New Mexico, social workers and psychologists take advantage of the vulnerable adults that they are supposed to be protecting. Fortunately, the perpetrators can be made to pay for the pain they have caused, but you must seek representation. Sam will help to make sure that everything possible is done to assure that your suffering has not been in vain.
Clergy Abuse
Although the Catholic Church is not the only venue for sexual abuse, it has been the most publicized due to the lack of bishop accountability. When the media picked up on the fact that bishops were just moving sexually abusive priests to another church, news outlets ran with the story. The truth is that clergy abuse includes not only Catholic priests, but rabbis, ministers, reverends, pastors, office staff at places of worship, religious youth directors, and anyone who works for a place of worship, such as ex-priest Jose Superiaso who pleaded guilty to six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by someone in this category, you now have an avenue of help available to you. You do not have to be a victim anymore. Contact Sam to find out how you can take control of what happened and help make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
New Mexico Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
The State of New Mexico is a friendly state to sexual abuse survivors and allows survivors to choose between the later of delayed tolling or the discovery rule.
This means that actions based on childhood sexual abuse may be brought within the later of 6 years from the victim’s 18th birthday or 3 years from the time that the sexual abuse victim “knew or had reason to know of the childhood sexual abuse and that the childhood sexual abuse resulted in an injury to the person, as established by competent medical or psychological testimony.” The law in New Mexico places a great amount of weight on the testimony of mental health professionals as they are often the source of information for the court to determine the date of discovery.
“Childhood sexual abuse” is defined, as behavior that would constitute criminal sexual penetration of a minor, criminal sexual contact with a minor, and criminal sexual exploitation of a child,
If you were sexually abused by a priest, rabbi, coach, psychologist or any other person who sexually abused you, please don’t feel ashamed. We want to help you.
Contact sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org