CANADA
Ottawa Community News
A priest who guided the growth of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Stittsville for nine years has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference with a person under 16 years of age.
Father Stephen Amesse, 56, who has been pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in Fallowfield since leaving Holy Spirit Parish in 2009, appeared in court on Thursday, Dec. 4. The charges were laid following an investigation by the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section into allegations of a sexual assault that occurred in 2008 at a Catholic church simply identified as being located in the west end of Ottawa.
It was in late Feb. 2014 that police investigators received a complaint and began this investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving a priest and a boy who was 14 years old at the time. In 2008, Father Amesse was pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Stittsville.
Police investigators indicate that they are concerned that there could be other victims. Anyone with information should contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS), toll free at 1-800-222-8477 or by downloading the Ottawa Police iOS app.
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