Trial Starts Monday in Clergy Abuse Case

A federal judge in Yakima is scheduled on Monday hear a case involving a man who sued the Catholic Diocese of Yakima over alleged clergy sexual abuse.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports the man, known as John Doe, is suing for more than $3 million. He alleges that a deacon in the Yakima Diocese repeatedly raped him one night in 1999.

Police later learned the deacon had left his Zillah church the day after the alleged incident and eventually fled to Mexico.

Doe's attorneys argue that the deacon was under the Yakima Diocese's supervision and used his position and authority to molest the teenager.

The diocese says the version of events given by Doe is not an accurate account of that evening.

The trial is before Judge Edward Shea.