A Carmelite friar is being held without bail on two counts of committing a sex offense on a child between the ages of 12 and 15. Rev. William C. Wert is facing 8 other charges-5 counts of sex offenses against a minor and 3 additional counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim between 12 and 16. Bail has been set at $10,000 per count on the 8 sex abuse charges.
Wert has been living in the Carmelite retirement home in Venice, Florida while he’s on a leave of absence from the Order of Carmelites. In 2007, Wert was convicted in Washington DC simple assault after being accused of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old and put on probation.
Thus far, there has been no comment from Bishop Frank Dewane who oversees the Catholic Diocese of Venice. Fr. Wert is not listed on the Diocese of Venice website.