PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A priest and a former lay teacher at St. Jerome’s Parish in Northeast Philadelphia are scheduled to go to trial today on sexual assault charges. The two men are charged with sexually assaulting the same young boy when he was in 5th and 6th grade in 1999.
Sixty-six-year-old Father Charles Engelhardt is charged with sexually assaulting the boy in the church sacristy after he had assisted at mass. According to the grand jury presentment, Father Engelhardt caught the boy drinking sacramental wine after mass, allegedly poured him more wine and showed him pornographic magazines, then assaulted him a week later after another mass.
Former lay teacher, 49-year-old Bernard Shero, allegedly attacked the boy in a car while giving him a ride home.
The defense has adamantly denied the allegations and both men have pleaded not guilty.
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