(PA)
PennLive.com
May 18, 2026
By Chris Mautner
A retired priest and former Pennsylvania State Police chaplain from Westmoreland County is facing charges relating to sex crimes dating back more than a decade.
Pennsylvania State Police said that Robert Byrnes, 84, has been charged with aggravated indecent assault without consent, obstruction and official oppression.
In March, police said a person reported he was sexually assaulted by Byrnes while he was working at Christ Our Shepherd Center in Greensburg in 2014. Byrnes lived in an apartment above the kitchen of the center.
The man told police he was in the center’s kitchen when Byrnes approached him from behind and touched him inappropriately under his underwear. The incident was unwanted and unsolicited, police said.
During the investigation, police said another person who worked in the center’s kitchen prior to the 2014 incident came forward to also accuse Byrnes of sexual assault. That accuser told police that Byrnes befriended him and would invite him up to his apartment after work.
Byrnes took the accuser to various casinos in the area, watched him shower and gave him alcohol, police said. The person told police he woke up the next morning naked in Byrnes’ bed with Byrnes touching him inappropriately.
Byrnes would also take the accuser to state police functions and introduce him to members of the state police, authorities said.
The accuser said Byrnes also touched him inappropriately while at a casino. He quit his job at the church center the following week.
Police said the men confronted Byrnes about the sexual abuse in recorded phone conversations. During these conversations, Byrnes asked them not to go to the police or a therapist “for the sake of the reputation for the church, priesthood, for other priests, for my family,” police said. He then asked the two to forgive him and to pray for God to forgive him.
In his capacity as a chaplain for the state police, Byrnes had been given a badge and police uniform.
“Byrnes has not been in active ministry in any parish or entity of the Diocese of Greensburg for the last eight years. He was removed from all ministry and placed on inactive status on August 3, 2018, as a result of a review and a recommendation by the Diocesan Clergy Review Board,” the Diocese of Greensburg said in a statement, sent to WTAE.
“Byrnes is no longer in residence at the Christ Our Shepherd Center. As always, the Diocese will continue its full cooperation with law enforcement and respects the legal process now underway.
“As part of the Diocesan Higher Standards Policy, the safety and well-being of children, vulnerable individuals or any person, remains our highest priority,“ the statement continued. ”We take these charges with the utmost seriousness, and our concern is first and foremost for anyone who may have been harmed.”
After being arraigned, Byrnes was released on bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 1.