RHODE ISLAND
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By Katie Davis, NBC 10 I-Team Reporter
The NBC 10 I-Team has confirmed a local Roman Catholic priest is under investigation by Rhode Island State Police for sexual abuse. The priest is no longer serving in a church, but is still living.
The new development follows an I-Team investigation that’s now stretched more than a year.
“We’re trying to determine whether it rises to the level of criminality, and fits into the statute,” said state police Capt. Christopher Dicomitis.
He said state police are not releasing the priest’s name because he has not been charged with a crime and that the investigation is ongoing. But he said criminal charges are possible.
The I-Team also learned that about 15 people have come forward to report sexual abuse by priests to state police since the NBC 10 first aired stories about the I-Team’s investigation in November.
State police said the people who filed reports in 2014 had not reported the abuse to law enforcement in the past, although some had reported their experience to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. …
NBC 10 asked the Diocese of Providence for an interview with Bishop Thomas Tobin on Friday, but received a written statement instead.
The statement said in part, “The Diocese of Providence is not aware of any new allegations of sexual abuse; the issues being investigated are old allegations and have already been widely reported.”
The statement did not address the state police investigation involving the living priest.
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