Herman Cassista
Permanent Deacon with the Archdiocese of Quebec.. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in 1972. March 2012 GUILTY plea to 16 charges related to sex abuse of young boys between 1972 and 1991. One of his victims committed suicide in 1986- if I understand correctly officials with the archdiocese were made aware of the situation and nothing was done – Cassista continued to molest.
Served as permanent deacon at Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval and Sainte-Thérèse-de-Enfant-Jesus until his indictment in October 2008.
February 2013: Sentenced to 7 years on 16 counts of sexually assaulting nine men and boys between the ages of nine and 28.
2011: GUILTY on first set of charges (M)
2008: First charges laid (M)
1972: ORDAINED deacon (M)
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09 February 2013: Former Quebec City deacon gets 7 years for sex assault of boys, men
08 February 2013: Seven years in prison for the pedophile Herman Cassista (google translation with original French text)
27 November 2012: Sentence of 8 to 10 years sought for former deacon pedophile Herman Cassista (google translation with original French text)
20 September 2012: Cassista regretted sexual assaults on young (google translation with original French text)
20 September 2012: Cassista exercised psychological hold on young people living with him (google translation with original French text)
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A deacon pleads guilty to 16 charges
Actualités [This is a google translation of the French article – scroll down for French]
01 March 2012
Herman Cassista © Agence QMI / Archives
QUEBEC – Herman Cassista, a deacon of Quebec, pleaded guilty this morning to 16 counts against him.
These charges of sexual touching and acts of masturbation, fellatio and sodomy of nine victims, which occurred between 1972 and 1991.
Herman was then Cassista church camp counselor in high school Companions de Cartier, in Sainte-Foy. Here he recruited his victims, and among boys in trouble that the DPJ entrusted to him. The proceedings against him took place at school, at a residence in Saint-Tite-des-Caps and a cottage in Charlevoix.
One of his victims committed suicide in 1986 and the Diocese of Quebec was made aware of the case. Cassista but still continued his assault.
In pleading guilty, Cassista recognized all the facts except sodomy. Two of his victims will have to testify, 20 and 21 September, during the sentencing.
In January 2011, Herman Cassista had already been sentenced to one year in prison for a first case of sexual assault on a minor boy. Dissemination of the case in the media has led six other victims to come forward and confessed to Cassista then made three other victims.
The accused remains in custody at least until the end of the proceedings against him.
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Agressions sexuelles
Un diacre plaide coupable à 16 accusations
Actualités
01/03/2012 14h43
Herman Cassista était alors animateur de pastorale à l’école secondaire des Compagnons-de-Cartier, dans Sainte-Foy. C’est là qu’il recrutait ses victimes, ainsi que parmi les garçons en difficulté que la DPJ lui confiait. Les actes qu’on lui reproche se sont déroulés à l’école, dans une résidence de Saint-Tite-des-Caps et dans un chalet de Charlevoix.
Une de ses victimes s’est suicidée en 1986 et le Diocèse de Québec a été mis au fait de l’affaire. Mais Cassista a quand même continué ses agressions.
En plaidant coupable, Cassista a reconnu tous les faits, sauf des actes de sodomie. Deux de ses victimes devront donc venir témoigner, les 20 et 21 septembre, lors des représentations sur sentence.
En janvier 2011, Herman Cassista avait déjà été condamné à un an de prison pour une première affaire d’agression sexuelle sur un garçon mineur. La diffusion de l’affaire dans les médias a incité six autres victimes à se manifester et Cassista a ensuite avoué avoir fait trois autres victimes.
L’accusé demeure détenu au moins jusqu’à la fin des procédures intentées contre lui.
I have added Deacon Cassista to the Accused list. Unfortunately all the media coverage is in French. I have posted this one article with google translation to get his name on the site. I won’t try to post other articles because it’s too difficult to sort out what the facts are with the google translations. I will rely on those of you who are bilingual to check the articles and post some of the details so we can all see what horrors this man committed and what was known about him back in 1986 🙂
I commend the victims for going to police to see that justice is done. My thoughs and prayers are with you all. Well done!
Sylvia,
Translation is not all that bad…have seen a lot worse.But, a few confusing twists:
1….”The proceedings against him…” should read: “The improper actions he is accused of…”took place at school..etc.
2. Third paragraph: …”the Quebec Diocese were informed of the situation..”i.e. the suicide and Cassista’s involvement/actions is suggested, and he was allowed/was able to continue his sexual assaults…!!!(the suicide in 86 and the report continues to ’91)
3. The second last line in the translation:”…and confessed to Cassista …” should read that :…”Cassista confessed there were three other victims”…after the media reports helped six victims come forward.
4. The DPJ in Quebec is the “youth protection” branch or department! As a counselor at the Companions de Cartier High School in Sainte-Foy(Quebec City) he used his position to recruit his victims(which were referred to him by the DPJ)…
I hope that helps.
jg
Thank you jg. Yes that helps a lot 🙂
I Thank You Sylvie for posting this. I have tried reading the article in French but had some difficutly to some words. But the most important words of all is the fact that this sick man did what he did to young children. This disgusts me to no end and I am sorry but I feel he deserves to spend the rest of his time in prison.
I am so happy that the victoms have come forward. Trust me, over time, you will start to heal. It takes time but over time it will happen. You need to be patient with yourselves and talk. That’s the biggest secret of all, TALK!
If you have meetings and groups in your area, attend them. It will help in the healing process. I am speaking because of experience. I have been through A to Z and have learned that the healing process comes with speaking out.