$900K settlement reached in Brother Baker case

YOUNGSTOWN — Representatives of 28 people, who said they were sexually abused as minors by Brother Stephen Baker, conducted a sidewalk news conference this morning outside the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown offices to announce a $900,000 settlement, but decried the settlement as “disrespectful” and said they had been “revictimized” by it.

Brother Baker, a member of the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars of Hollidaysburg, Pa., who was a former teacher and coach at Warren JFK High School, killed himself in 2013.

The settlement was reached with the diocese and the Third Order Regular.

Speaking at the news conference was Robert M. Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery Inc., a nonprofit New Jersey-based organization that assists sexual-abuse victims and their families; and Barbara Aponte, mother of the late Luke Bradesku, who was part of the settlement.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com