Bishop Hendricken High School Sex Abuse Lawsuit
A new lookback window for civil child sexual abuse lawsuits in Rhode Island has given survivors of abuse at churches and schools like Bishop Hendricken High School the chance to seek justice for abuse they endured as children. If you experienced sexual abuse while attending Bishop Hendricken, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability and compensation, and Helping Survivors can connect you with our legal partners for assistance.
- Bishop Hendricken High School is a private Catholic school in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a history of staff being arrested and charged for sexual abuse, sometimes involving students at the school.
- Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse lawsuit revival window has temporarily eliminated the time limit for survivors to take legal action, even if the abuse they endured occurred years or decades ago.
- Survivors of sexual abuse by staff at Bishop Hendricken High School have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable and seeking compensation.
Sexual Abuse Allegations and Lawsuits Against Bishop Hendricken High School
Bishop Hendricken High School is a prominent all-boys Catholic high school in Warwick, Rhode Island, operated by the Diocese of Providence. Multiple former staff members, both secular and clergy members, have been accused of sexually abusing students at the school in the past.
Although there have not been any wide-reaching settlements for Bishop Hendricken victims yet, lawsuits against the diocese, the church, and administrators may allow survivors to recover significant compensation.
Staff Accused of Abuse at Bishop Hendricken High School
Multiple former staff members at Bishop Hendricken High School have faced criminal and civil legal actions for alleged sexual abuse. Several were clergy members with the Diocese of Providence, while another was the former assistant principal of the school.
Father Joseph Rocha
Father Joseph Rocha was a member of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph religious order. He was assigned to parishes in the Diocese of Providence for nearly 15 years. He had nine placements during that time and served five years at Bishop Hendricken High School between 1977 and 1982. Rocha left the Diocese of Providence in 1986 and the Dominican Order in 1988. He died in 2009.
In 2001, Father Rocha pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 21-year-old mentally disabled man at an assisted living facility in North Providence in 1999.
In 2012, a man reported to the Diocese that Rocha sexually assaulted him three times in 1982 when he was 8 or 9 years old. One of those incidents occurred at Bishop Hendricken High School in Rocha’s office. In 2019, an attorney contacted the Diocese to report that Rocha sexually assaulted his client as a minor in 1981 or 1982 at Bishop Hendricken.
Timothy Sheldon
Timothy Sheldon was an assistant principal at Bishop Hendricken who pleaded no contest to indecently soliciting a child in 2005. Sheldon was arrested in 2004 following a police probe into an explicit discussion he had in an online chat room with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. He was suspended from his job at the school after police began investigating.
Sheldon was sentenced to five years’ probation and had to surrender his state teaching certificate. He was also ordered not to be employed in any job in which he would have contact with children.
Brother John M. Walderman
In 1986, Brother John M. Walderman, former principal of Bishop Hendricken, was arrested after allegedly attempting to solicit a 17-year-old boy for sex.
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Legal Rights for Survivors of Bishop Hendricken High School Sex Abuse
Survivors of sexual abuse at Bishop Hendricken High School have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable. By reporting abuse, survivors can trigger a criminal investigation into the perpetrator, but no criminal charges can be filed if the perpetrator is deceased. However, in a civil lawsuit, survivors can hold the enablers of the abuse accountable, such as the diocese, the church, and the administration, if they covered up abuse by staff.
Rhode Island’s Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
In June 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation expanding the state’s statute of limitations rules for childhood sexual abuse claims and implementing a two-year revival window that remains open through June 30, 2028. During that period, eligible victims may be able to bring certain civil lawsuits against individuals, institutions, organizations, or other parties connected to alleged childhood sexual abuse.
Within hours of the new statute of limitations taking effect, dozens of victims of clergy sex abuse filed claims against the Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island. Some of the allegations date back decades. Every case is unique, so even if you’re unsure if the window applies to you, contact an experienced attorney to make sure you’ve explored all of your legal options.
Steps to Take if You Were Abused at Bishop Hendricken High School
Report the Abuse
Reporting sexual abuse to law enforcement before filing a lawsuit in Rhode Island isn’t required, but reporting to your local police department or the Rhode Island State Police can create a valuable paper trail and potentially trigger a criminal investigation.
Victims of clergy abuse can contact the Rhode Island State Police at 401-764-0142 to report abuse. You can also report child abuse in Rhode Island to the Department of Children, Youth & Families via their 24/7 Hotline at 1-800-RI-CHILD.
Gather Evidence
Gather as much evidence as you have to support your claim of abuse at Bishop Hendricken High School. This might include medical records from after the assault, a list of witnesses who saw or heard about the assault, messages or journal entries from the time, and more.
You don’t have to worry about gathering everything needed to prove your case by yourself. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can investigate and obtain the evidence needed to build your case.
Seek Legal Representation to File A Civil Lawsuit
If you experienced sexual abuse at Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island, even if it was years or decades ago, an experienced Rhode Island sexual abuse attorney can help you determine whether you have grounds to file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation. Contact Helping Survivors today. We can connect you with our legal partners for a free case evaluation.
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