THE ORDER OF THE CARMELITES HAS AGREED TO PAY THE FAMILY OF A NOKOMIS BOY ALLEGEDLY ABUSED BY ONE OF THEIR PRIESTS $1.75 MILLION DOLLARS. PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY THE 14 YEAR OLD BOY REMAINS IN COUNSELING AND THE FAMILY IS STILL DISTRAUGHT OVER THE RELATIONSHIP WITH 53 YEAR OLD WILLIAM WERT, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN FEBRUARY FOLLOWING THE REVELATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND JANUARY. THE BOY REPORTEDLY FOUND WERT WHEN VISITING A GAY TEEN CHAT SITE. THE ORDER HAS NOT SPOKEN PUBLICALLY ABOUT THE ARREST SINCE IT OCCURRED, AND WERT IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO TRIAL IN OCTOBER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TROUBLE FOR WERT AS HE WAS CONVICTED IN 2007 OF MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT OF A 14 YEAR OLD BOY THERE.
