ILLINOIS
Journal-Courier
Posted: Thursday, October 10, 2013
BY MARIA NAGLE Journal-Courier
The statute of limitations apparently has run out on a 33-year-old allegation of sexual misconduct against a former Jacksonville priest, but the county’s chief prosecutor is not ready to close the door on pursuing prosecution.
The accusation involves acts alleged to have occurred between the Rev. Robert “Bud” DeGrand and a minor in 1980, the same year DeGrand was ordained to the priesthood and assigned to Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.
Church officials have been investigating the 61-year-old priest after the allegation was received Sept. 9 by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield’s victim assistance coordinator. On Sept. 13, the Diocesan Review Board found the allegation to have “a semblance of truth” and recommended that Bishop Thomas Paprocki begin a preliminary investigation.
As required by a diocesan policy, State’s Attorney Robert Bonjean III and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were notified.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.