3 Friars Ask Judge to Dismiss Charges of Failing to Supervise Suspected Sexual Predator

NBC Philadelphia
June 15, 2017

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Friars-Request-Dismissal-of-Charges-of-Molesting-Pa-Students--428414523.html

Bishop McCort Catholic High School

Three Franciscan friars are asking a judge to dismiss criminal charges that they didn't properly supervise a suspected sexual predator accused of molesting more than 100 children, most at a Pennsylvania high school.

Blair County Judge Jolene Kopriva has set a hearing Wednesday on the defense motions filed by attorneys for Giles Schinelli, Robert D'Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli.

State prosecutors say the friars assigned or supervised Brother Stephen Baker when he served at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown in the 1990s. Baker killed himself in 2013, shortly after a settlement was announced that he had molested students at a school in Youngstown, Ohio. That settlement prompted more than 80 former McCort students to come forward with molestation allegations, that have resulted in more than $8 million in settlements.

The friars say they're not responsible for those incidents.