BishopAccountability.org

Former Bishop Carroll employee charged with sexual assault

By Ron Musselman
WJAC
July 26, 2016

http://wjactv.com/news/local/former-bishop-carroll-employee-charged-with-sexual-assault-07-26-2016


HARRISBURG — Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office announced Tuesday that criminal charges have been filed against a former employee of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School accused of sexually assaulting an international exchange student.

John Bowman Thornberry, 28, of Mills Rivers, N.C., also is charged with the attempted sexual assault of a second international exchange student.

The alleged incidents occurred while Thornberry worked as a house parent in a residence hall for students of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, located in Ebensburg, Cambria County.

The school is affiliated with the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

Thornberry is awaiting a preliminary arraignment.

"This is a disturbing case of a trusted school official violating the very students he was obligated to watch over and care for," Kane said. "It is unacceptable for anyone to harm a child."

Thornberry's arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Ebensburg Police Department. The investigation began after an administrator from Bishop Carroll contacted authorities to report the allegations involving Thornberry.

According to a criminal complaint, as a house parent Thornberry was in charge of assisting students with homework assignments and transportation. He also was responsible for accounting for students' whereabouts when they were outside the classroom.

The alleged sexual assault and the alleged attempted sexual assault occurred between December 2014 and February 2016. The alleged incidents occurred in the school residence hall where the student victims were living, investigators stated in a criminal complaint.

The Office of Attorney General assumed jurisdiction of the case following a referral from Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan.




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