Father Robert Brooks
Diocese of Richmond
Ordained: 1961
Removed: 2004
Assigned as follows:
- 1961-1968 St. Louis (Alexandria, VA)
- 1968-1971 St. Philip (Falls Church, VA)
- 1971 St. John the Apostle (Highland Springs, VA)
- 1972 St. Mark (Vienna, VA)
- 1973-1980 St. Ambrose (Annandale, VA)
- 1980-1990 St. James (Falls Church, VA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Robert Brooks:
Father Robert Brooks was ordained for the Diocese of Richmond and incardinated into the Diocese of Arlington when it was erected in 1974. Brooks served at churches in Falls Church, Annandale, Vienna and Alexandria, before ministering at St. John the Apostle for 14 years.
According to media reports, in October 2004 Father Brooks was removed from active ministry immediately after Loudoun County officials reported to the Diocese of Arlington that they intended to arrest Father Brooks on a charge of possession of child pornography. The investigation reportedly began in September 2004 when members of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) learned that Brooks was allegedly discovered to be a registered user of a child pornography website.
In February 2005, Father Brooks was arrested. In October 2005, he pleaded no contest to the charges. Just before sentencing in December 2005, a man came forward to allege that Brooks had exposed himself to the man when the victim was 13-year-old. Such an allegation can result in an upward departure in a child pornography sentence; a defendant can receive a longer sentence for sexual abusing kids even though he was not charged with the abuse itself.
Brooks was sentenced to three years in prison, but the jail time was suspended in favor of two years probation after several church members spoke of his years of service. Brooks was also required to complete a sexual offender treatment program.
In February 2019, Father Brooks‘ name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Arlington’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. His name does not appear on the Diocese of Richmond’s list of accused clergy. According to the Arlington Diocese, Brooks retired with no active ministry or faculties in 2006.
His current whereabouts are unknown. If he is still living, he would be approximately 85 years old. He is not a registered sex offender.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Richmond. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Richmond, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Richmond now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.