Jury out in Pa. priest’s teen relationship trial

PENNSYLVANIA
Centre Daily Times

The Associated Press

SMETHPORT, Pa. — A suspended northwestern Pennsylvania priest on trial for an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy told police he bought the boy’s attention with expensive gifts because he felt “old and alone” but contends he acted more like the boy’s “Dad” despite flirtatious-sounding messages prosecutors said he sent the boy without his mother’s knowledge.

A McKean County jury began deliberating charges including corruption of minors, interfering with the mother’s custody of the boy, and concealing the whereabouts of a child against the Rev. Samuel Slocum, 60.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie suspended Slocum from duties at two rural churches after the charges were filed in April, prompting Bishop Donald Trautman to issue a statement saying the charges, which do not include allegations of sexual misconduct, were nonetheless “devastating, if true.”

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