Sex offender Porter incurably ill, should be freed, lawyer says

[Hoss68]

Associated Press
October 22, 2004

NEW BEDFORD, Mass.-- A former priest at the center of notorious molestation cases in Minnesota and Massachusetts has incurable cancer and should not be locked up indefinitely as a dangerous sexual predator, his lawyer said.


The attorney, Michael F. Farrington, planned to ask a judge to halt civil commitment proceedings against James Porter, who is bedridden and being managed for pain.

Porter, 69, was convicted in 1993 of molesting 28 children during the 1960s and 1970s while he was a priest in the Fall River Diocese. He also was convicted in Minnesota of molesting his children's teenage baby sitter. That conviction was overturned on appeal.

He completed 11 years in prison in January but has remained in custody while prosecutors sought to have him locked up as a continued threat.

In a motion filed with the court, Farrington said Porter may have only six months to a year to live because of the ``highly aggressive'' malignant tumor.

Prosecutors said they would seek a letter from Porter's doctor verifying his condition.

According to the defense, the tumor was found after Porter was hospitalized twice last month, first for hip pain and a swollen leg and then for kidney failure caused by dehydration.

Porter married and had four children after leaving the priesthood.

[165grNosler]

Freakin ridiculous to even consider letting him out. Should rot in prison until he dies.

[Woodmonkey]

If the state lets him out, then that will deny his victims justice.

[Hoss68]

Just because the sex offender (sexual deviant) is dying, does not mean the deviant inside is...

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by Hoss68

Just because the sex offender (sexual deviant) is dying, does not mean the deviant inside is...

Nope. And we hear of cancer going into remission every day.

The molester at our church served seven years and is free now. I wonder if he is behaving, but I don't know.

[BrianK]

NEW BEDFORD, Mass.-- A former priest at the center of notorious molestation cases in Minnesota and Massachusetts Porter married and had four children after leaving the priesthood.

Sets a pretty scary precedent if he is released. He was a priest. That title shouldn't confer upon him any special considerations when it comes to breaking laws. Why wouldn't any other inmate suffering from terminal cancer be able to get released. Supposedly our system of justice places no man above the law.

[Hoss68]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Sets a pretty scary precedent if he is released. He was a priest. That title shouldn't confer upon him any special considerations when it comes to breaking laws. Why wouldn't any other inmate suffering from terminal cancer be able to get released. Supposedly our system of justice places no man above the law.

The sex offenders in our state die in the system (civil or criminal commitment). I was witness to several while working for the sex offender program, and a few we knew were terminal. Once they died (as heartless as it sounds), many referred to them as "cured".

I was slated to act as a PCA (personal care attendant) for one such man. I walked in the room, the smell was one I had smelt at the hospital when I worked there, and I refused to do the duty (a first for me). We called in the RN's, who called the doctor. The man ws transferred to the hospital where he died shortly thereafter... I smelled death in his room. The RN's thanked me for calling, it left the final days up to the doctors in a real hospital and took his death off the state's hands.

Unfortunately some "men of the cloth" use their position to take advantage of members of their churches. It should NOT be used to get them out of a civil commitment.

I am glad not all men of the cloth are like this POS! Let him die in prison~ His victims are in one of their own because of his depravity.