Former Gilman School Priest Gets Three Suspended Years for 1970s Assault

Laurence LaPointe, 81, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a fourth-degree sex offense and common-law assault. The former Catholic priest was sentenced to three years, all suspended, and five years of supervised probation. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General released the details of the case.

The abuse occurred at Gilman School in Baltimore. LaPointe served as a temporary chaplain and religious teacher at the institution between 1967 and 1977. He invited a middle school student to his on-campus apartment to play chess during that period.

The assault took place inside that apartment during a game of strip chess. LaPointe instructed the victim not to tell anyone about the incident. The victim attended the court hearing for the plea. He described the difficulty of coming forward after a long silence.

"Today, finally, after nearly fifty years, the heavy burden of his actions and the lasting harm he has caused, passes from me to its rightful place," the victim said. "From this day forward, it is Laurence LaPointe’s obligation to bear the weight of what he did to an innocent child."

LaPointe must avoid direct contact with minors and cannot volunteer in settings that involve them. He is also barred from contacting the victim. The court ordered him to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and follow any recommended treatment.