PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA
[with video]
By Marielena Balouris | mbalouris@wtajtv.com
Published 03/15 2016
Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.
Three Franciscan Friars are accused of allowing the sexual abuse of more than 100 children at Bishop McCort High School.
The charges stem from the investigation in to allegations against Brother Stephen Baker — who committed suicide in 2013 after he was accused.
Investigators say his supervisors knew he was a child predator — and intentionally concealed his crimes from police and school administrators. Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli now face felony charges. That’s because the statute of limitations in this case have not expired. The Attorney General said these men took a vow of silence, and allowed baker to molest more than 100 children.
Kathleen Kane, PA Attorney General, said, “We cannot stress enough the importance of holding those who treat and abuse our children accountable for what they’ve done.”
These new charges come just two weeks after a Grand Jury report detailed a cover-up inside of local Catholic churches. According to this latest Grand Jury report, the Franciscan Friars at the Province of the Immaculate Conception had “considerable experience in handling members of the order…who faced allegations of sexual child abuse.”
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