Former Somerville priest accused of sex abuse dead

SOMERVILLE (MA)
Wicked Local Somerville

By Auditi Guha
Wicked Local Somerville

Posted Sep 27, 2012

Somerville —

A former Somerville priest who was recently accused of sex abuse reportedly committed suicide this week.

“With sorrow I received news this evening that the Rev. Paul LaCharite has died, an apparent suicide,” said Bishop M. Thomas Shaw of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in a statement on Sept. 26. “This is a shocking tragedy, and I’ve asked our diocesan community to pray for everyone concerned.”

Formerly of St. James Episcopal Church in Somerville, LaCharite, 65, was affiliated with the Old North Church in Boston and was arrested Sept.10 on on one count of assault to rape a child under 14 and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.

“Father LaCharite is innocent of these charges,” said his defense attorney David Meier to reporters outside the courthouse after his arraignment Sept. 10 where he denied the charges and was issued a $10,000 bail.

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