cdrumm4448 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I posted recently about our parish priest who recently was accused of molesting a child (not from our parish.) He threw himself off the balcony of a church so has been in intensive care since. He was recently released and taken into custody and charged with the following: One count of predatory criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault, and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Does this mean there were seven separate occasions of abuse, or is there some other way to calculate charges? The newspaper stated that the abuse occurred from 2005-2010. I don't even know why I want to know this information. The whole thing really, really bothers me since it was a priest in our parish and school. Aren't there systems in place in the church to weed out predators? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 and even the same occasion. However, if the abuse occured over a 5 year period, he is likely being charged with separate incidences. Just FYO charging "predatory criminal assault" in Illinois appears to require penetration (just from googling it), so that's a very serious charge. Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 When I see a list that long, over a period of time like that, my assumption is that this is a pattern of behavior and there is a strong likelihood that there was more than one victim (even if those other victims are silent). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I don't even know why I want to know this information. The whole thing really, really bothers me since it was a priest in our parish and school. Aren't there systems in place in the church to weed out predators? This is the thing - a predator looks just like you and me. Until they get caught, there is no way to know who they are. This is why I am not overly concerned about registered offenders - I am always, always more vigilant about those we know and interact with on a regular basis. Children are more at risk among friends and family members than strangers. I am sorry that this happened in your parish (or anywhere for that matter!) A teacher was arrested a couple of years ago at my ds's school for possession of child ponography (and some other charges I believe.) It's an ugly thing when you find out someone in a position of trust greatly abused it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Unfortunately, they are often just sent to other parishes, I'm afraid. The counts could be for separate victims, or one victim on separate occasions. He might not even be charged with all instances because there might not be enough proof to bring charges on all counts. I'm sorry.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrumm4448 Posted January 22, 2010 Author Share Posted January 22, 2010 That is what bothers me the most about this terrible situation: if this child hadn't come forward when he did, that priest would still be at our parish and school. He was surrounded by children every day. So far it has only been one child that has reported abuse, but I worry that others are silent. My son is homeschooled, so I don't worry about him there, since he isn't anymore. My daughter, on the other hand, is in the preschool there. This priest was not in the preschool classrooms, I am told. But, I am not with her every second that she's there. Any situation of abuse is terrible, but for a person who positioned himself as a moral authority to do it just makes me crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpupg Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'm no lawyer, but I did serve on a jury for a violent crime. There were four separate charges we had to decide for just that one single incident. The prosecutors loaded up every possible variation of a charge they could. It taught me that the number of charges doesn't mean anything about the number of crimes committed. The crime I juried for happened one time and it really was just one crime, but the prosecutors were gunning for conviction on four separate charges. I don't pretend to understand whether that is just, but it is legal. I'm truly sorry you are dealing with this so close to your own family. It is heart-breaking. As far as systems to weed out predators, it is my impression that this is primarily bishop-dependent. By that I mean that some bishops take it very seriously, put effective administrative mechanisms in place, personally keep tabs on it, treat it like the crime it is, etc. ... and others not so much. :grouphug: Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrumm4448 Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 To make matters worse, the paper reported recently that the boy in question in the priest's godson. Also, that the boy's mother gave the priest tequila and that he drank too much, passed out, and woke up to find himself and the boy in s*xual activity. The boy's stepfather noticed innappropriate activity on two separate occasions. It all sounds bizarre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/geneva/features/x867957001/Priest-charged-in-sexual-assault-of-St-Charles-child If this is correct the charges are for one child victimized repeatedly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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