Mississippi Supreme Court Declines Appeal in Sexual Abuse Case

The decision reaffirms the conviction of former Franciscan friar Paul West, underscoring the enduring impact of such crimes on communities.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has declined to consider an appeal from Paul West, a former Franciscan friar convicted of sexual abuse.
West was convicted in 2022 of sexual battery and gratification of lust, with the accusations first reported in 2019 by La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love, former students at St. Francis of Assisi School in Greenwood.
West's legal team argued that prosecutors failed to prove that La Jarvis Love was younger than 18 at the time of the abuse, but the Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled that this challenge should have been made during the trial.
The aftermath of the case led to the closure of St. Francis of Assisi School, which had served the local community for over 70 years, due to the sexual abuse scandal, declining enrollment, and a significant decrease in donations.
The refusal of the Mississippi Supreme Court to entertain West's appeal reaffirms the validity of the conviction and the voices of the survivors, highlighting the enduring impact of such crimes on individuals, institutions, and communities.