Priest Sentenced to Jail for Abuse

The Times-Tribune
August 23, 2013

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/priest-sentenced-to-jail-for-abuse-1.1540681

A former Wilkes-Barre priest convicted of molesting an altar boy was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison this week.

Thomas P. Shoback, 66, was found guilty in May in Tioga County Court of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related counts.

Mr. Shoback, born in Pittston, was a faculty member at Bishop Hoban High School and had served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Plains Twp., St. Joseph’s Church in Plains Twp. and Holy Redeemer Church in Exeter Twp., as well as assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Hazleton and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Plymouth.

He was working at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish in Jermyn when the allegations came to light in November 2011. A former altar boy at St. Mary’s Parish in Blossburg, Tioga County, told the Diocese of Scranton the assaults took place from 1991 to 1997, starting when he was about 11.

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