PENNSYLVANIA
WPXI
A former Westmoreland County priest is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child from an incident more than 25 years ago.
John Thomas Sweeney, 75, was arraigned Monday afternoon at the magistrate’s office in Allegheny Township.
This is what we know from a criminal affidavit:
1. Sweeney was formerly a priest in the Diocese of Greensburg, from 1970-2016.
2. He served at seven stations in the diocese, including St. Margaret Mary in Lower Burrell, where he is accused of abusing the child. He also served parishes in Latrobe, Greensburg, Smock, Freeport, Apollo and West Newton
.
3. He was indicted by a state grand jury, which heard testimony from him, his alleged victim and a friend in whom the victim confided as an adult.
4. Sweeney allegedly forced the victim, who was in fourth grade at the time, to perform oral sex on him sometime between September 1991 and June 1992.
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