A Slidell priest convicted of molestation has been denied parole.
Patrick Wattigny was in front of a parole board Thursday where he asked for forgiveness he was denied his request.Advertisement
One of his victims, Tim Gioe, was at the hearing where he said Wattigny’s actions were a “deliberate abuse of power.”
Gioe said Wattigny used his spiritual authority to groom and manipulate him.
Wattigny’s parole denial comes just days after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that would make grooming a crime in the state.
Earlier reports:
Gioe is outraged over the potential early release of convicted priest Pattrick Wattigny from prison. This comes after Wattigny has served just two years of a five-year sentence.
“If Wattigny is let out of prison, will he do this to another person?” Gioe was asked. “Yes, there’s nothing that can convince me otherwise,” Gioe said. View Cache