Lawsuit filed against retired Archdiocese of Miami priest

Lawsuit alleges Neil Doherty drugged, sexually abused Dennis Montero

MIAMI – A lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County alleges that a retired priest drugged and sexually abused a 15-year-old boy nearly 30 years ago.

Attorney Jeff Herman announced the lawsuit against retired Archdiocese of Miami priest Fr. Neil Doherty on Thursday. Doherty is in Broward County Jail awaiting trial on unrelated charges.

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According to the lawsuit, in 1984, Dennis Montero, then 15 years old, met Doherty in Keystone Trailer Park in Miami. While there, the lawsuit alleges Doherty drugged and sexually abused Montero. The abuse continued for the next 18 months.

According to the lawsuit, Doherty abused other boys before, during, and after the time he abused Dennis, which was concealed by the Archdiocese.

"According to our lawsuit, the Archdiocese of Miami chose to protest themselves and Doherty instead of kids like Dennis," Herman said in a statement.

The Archdiocese of Miami issued a statement Thursday regarding its policy on sexual abuse allegations.

Click here to read the Archdiocese's statement.