In Florida, there are over 100 priests accused of sexual abuse, including priests from the dioceses of Miami, Orlando, and St. Petersburg, and Palm Beach.
Survivors who have experienced clergy sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct in the state of Florida are filing civil lawsuits against abusive religious leaders and their associated organizations. These legal legal claims serve to hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions, and also allow survivors of sexual abuse to pursue financial compensation for damages. If you or a loved one has suffered abuse or assault, call (800) 509-9747 or get help online from our legal team – completely free and always 100% confidential.
Together, We Can Hold Abusers Accountable…
Below is a list of priests accused of sexual abuse in Florida, which also includes other diocesan religious members facing legal allegations. The lists below do not include allegations against administrative staff or volunteers accused, although you may still be able to file a sexual abuse claim against abusive staff and volunteers.
Accused Clergy Members From The Archdiocese of Miami (40)
- Arandia, Arnulfo
- Calimari, Joseph
- Carrera, Francisco
- Cassetta, Charles
- Castellanos, Ricardo
- Castillo, Rolando
- Cinesi, Joseph
- D’Angelo, Rocco Charles
- Dennehy, Thomas
- Doherty, Neil
- Eggleton, Christopher T.
- Engbers, Thomas J.
- Escala, Rafael
- Fernandez, Miguel A.
- Flemming, James
- Garcia, Rolando G.
- Garcia-Rubio, Ernesto
- Gonzalez-Abreu, Hector
- Guerrero, Joaquin
- Guichard, Alvaro
- Harris, L. Yates
- Huck, Joseph
- Joan Marie, Sister
- Jove, Pedro
- Kershner, Joseph J.
- LaCerra, Gerard T. “Gerry”
- Malicki, Jan
- Mercieca, Anthony
- Miyares, Gustavo J.
- Nickse, Jose Pablo
- O’Brien, Kevin
- O’Farrill, Juan Ramon
- Parlangeli, Anthony
- Puertas, Cristobal de Jesus
- Ringenberger, Harry
- Smith, Trevor
- Sokol, Edward
- Walk, Donald J.
- Walsh, Bryan O.
- Ward, Kenneth
Our Miami clergy abuse attorneys are always available to help. If you are a loved one has suffered from abuse or assault from a priest or other religious leader in Miami or surrounding areas, our legal team can help you better understand your legal options.
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of Orlando (13)
- Bendixen, Arthur
- Coyle, James M.
- Emerson, Richard A.
- Garcia, Emilio
- Honc, Kathleen Francis
- O’Dowd, Eamon
- Pagni, III, Thomas James
- Redmond, Lawrence “Larry” P.
- Salazar, Oscar
- Sheedy, Patrick J.
- Sykes, Thomas D.
- Uhran, Vernon
- Uniowski, Peter
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of Palm Beach (6)
- Collins, Edwin
- Flynn, Frank
- Guimaraes, Elias Francisco
- Maloney, Francis F.
- Palimattom, Jose
- Symons (Bp), Joseph Keith
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee (6)
- Bhaskar Godugunuru, Vijaya “Vijay”
- Castillo, Richard “Rick”
- Cherup, Jr., Michael A.
- Crandall, Thomas Anthony
- Jones, Edward T.
- McCreanor, David
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of St. Augustine (5)
- Bowles, Richard J.
- Malone, William J.
- McNamara, Thomas
- Mena, Jose
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of St. Petersburg (23)
- Acosta, Jorge
- Allen, Richard J.
- Appleby, Russell Gerald
- Balthazar, Norman G.
- Berko, Matthew
- Bernabe, Polienato
- Burke (St. Petersburgh, FL), William Michael
- Casula, John
- Clementi, Innocente
- Hernandez, Ramon
- Hidding, Thomas J.
- Lara, James C.
- Lau, William A.
- Luka, Ronald John
- McLoughlin, Nicholas
- Mulryan, Thomas
- O’Donnell, Terence (Terry)
- Reason, Hubert John
- Rhodes, Michael
- Rogge, Norman J.
- Schaeufele, Robert L.
- Spillane, Jeremiah M.
- Tuoc, Ignatius
Accused Clergy Members From The Diocese of Venice (9)
- Anglim, Thomas M.
- Baier, Donald
- Bartholomew, Carl
- Brennan, George
- Cikovic, Charles Michael
- Flemming, Neil (brother of James)
- Joseph, Jean Ronald
- McLoughlin, Edward
- Romero, William
Florida Clergy Abuse Settlements
Ignite Life Center – 2024 Confidential Settlement
- Institution: Ignite Life Center (Assemblies of God), Gainesville, FL
- Year: 2024
- Victims: 3 former youth group members
- Abuser: Gabriel Hemenez (volunteer)
- Outcome: Confidential settlement following lawsuits filed in March 2024
- Notes: Hemenez was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Claims involved sexual assault during 2018 youth events. Settlement included institutional commitments to improve youth protections.
Florida Catholic Dioceses – Historical Settlements and Payouts
- Archdiocese of Miami: Paid out $9.3 million by 2003 to resolve approximately 90 abuse claims involving priests.
- Diocese of Orlando & Diocese of St. Augustine (Joint Settlement): Paid $1.5 million in 2005 to settle three claims from altar boys abused in the 1960s–70s.
- Recent Cases (Post-2010): One 2015 Miami lawsuit sought $5 million, but resolution details remain undisclosed. Many more payouts occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Active Florida Clergy Abuse Lawsuits
Doe v. Archdiocese of Miami
A John Doe lawsuit alleges that a South Florida Catholic priest sexually abused the plaintiff as a child between 1999 and 2001. The victim, now in his 30s, sued the Archdiocese of Miami in 2021 for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED). The trial court initially dismissed the negligence claims as time-barred, but in March 2023, an appellate court ruled that the IIED claim could proceed under a 2010 change in Florida law. The priest (not named as a defendant) allegedly molested Doe “dozens of times,” and the Archdiocese is accused of ignoring and concealing the abuse. The Florida Supreme Court declined to intervene, so the emotional-distress claims are moving forward.
Diocese of Orlando – Pastor “Father Bob” Abuse Case
In May 2025, Shawn Teuber filed a $25 million civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Orlando, alleging that Father Robert “Bob” Hoeffner sexually abused him repeatedly between 2012 and 2014, starting when he was in middle school. Teuber alleges Hoeffner groomed and molested him at St. Joseph Catholic School and off-campus. The lawsuit claims the diocese and school failed to act despite prior concerns about Hoeffner. Another alleged victim of Hoeffner was linked to a 2024 triple murder, underscoring the severity of the trauma. The case is currently active in Brevard County.
Ignite Life Center (Assemblies of God) Lawsuit
A civil case in Gainesville involves the Ignite Life Center, where Christian “Chris” Vargas, son of the head pastors, was accused of sexually abusing minors. A 2024 lawsuit alleges the abuse occurred during church events and that Vargas, while a volunteer leader, was given special access to children. The lawsuit also names the Florida Multicultural District of the Assemblies of God as a defendant. The church and district moved to dismiss the case, arguing Vargas acted independently, but the case remains active in court.
Statewide Catholic Clergy Investigation (Florida)
In 2018, Florida’s Attorney General launched a statewide investigation into clergy abuse following the Pennsylvania grand jury report. Over 260 tips were received, and a 2020 report identified 97 priests in Florida with credible abuse allegations. Many were transferred to Florida from other states. While no new criminal charges were filed, the report exposed decades of institutional cover-ups. The findings fueled public calls for statute of limitations reform and transparency.
Southern Baptist Convention – Federal Abuse Inquiry
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of clergy sex abuse allegations. Florida Baptist churches were among those cited in internal reports detailing systemic cover-ups. Although no federal charges were filed and the investigation concluded in 2023, the process prompted reforms within the SBC, including the creation of a database of credibly accused ministers. Florida churches are now subject to increased scrutiny and accountability measures as a result.
Deadline to File a Claim in Florida
- Criminal SOL (Child Sexual Abuse): There is no time limit for prosecuting many child sexual abuse crimes in Florida today. Under “Donna’s Law” (effective July 1, 2020), any felony sexual battery against a minor under 18 can be prosecuted at any time. Previously, prosecution was subject to strict time limits, often requiring reporting within 72 hours for underage victims. Donna’s Law removed those requirements but is not retroactive.
- Civil SOL (Child Sexual Abuse – Direct Perpetrator): Survivors can file a lawsuit up to 7 years after turning 18, or within 4 years of leaving the abuser’s authority, or within 4 years of discovering the injury—whichever is latest. Additionally, if the abuse involved sexual battery and the victim was under 16, there is no civil statute of limitations in Florida, provided the claim wasn’t already time-barred before July 2010.
- Civil SOL (Suing Institutions): When suing a third-party institution like a church or school for negligence, the standard personal injury limitations period applies—typically 4 years. So while survivors may be able to sue an abuser decades later, claims against institutions may be barred unless filed within that 4-year window from when the abuse occurred or the survivor turned 18.
- Reforms in the Past 10 Years: In 2010, Florida abolished civil and criminal SOLs for child sexual abuse involving victims under 16, for cases not already expired. Donna’s Law in 2020 removed the criminal statute of limitations for all minors under 18. However, Florida has not passed a retroactive “look-back window” that would reopen previously time-barred civil claims. Past proposals, like a one-year revival window and full elimination of civil SOLs, have stalled in the legislature.
- Pending & Proposed Changes: Advocates continue to push for reforms to align Florida with other states that have eliminated civil SOLs for child sexual abuse. A 2022 federal law abolished the federal civil SOL for these claims, increasing pressure on states to follow suit. Despite no major changes passing in 2023, survivor groups and legislators are expected to reintroduce reform bills in upcoming sessions.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Get Help From The Lawyers at Kayla’s Survivors
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse in Florida, you are not alone and legal help is available. While the legal process can feel overwhelming, working with an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, pursue accountability, and seek the justice you deserve. Taking that first step to speak up can be a powerful move toward healing and holding both abusers and institutions responsible. Take the next step by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us about your case online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support.
The sexual abuse attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors have helped recover over $1 billion for our clients, including clergy abuse claims settled in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa/St. Pete.
