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  Retired Priest Faces 36 Charges

Edmonton Sun [Canada]
November 15, 2005

CHATHAM, Ont. -- A retired southwestern Ontario priest is behind bars after 29 more women came forward with complaints of childhood sexual abuse.

Chatham-Kent police yesterday laid 31 new counts against Charles Sylvestre, bringing the total sexual abuse charges the 82-year-old faces to 36.

Sylvestre, who lives in nearby Belle River, is charged with 29 counts of indecent assault, three charges of rape, three counts of sexual intercourse with a female under 14 years of age and one charge of attempted rape, said Det.-Const. Kate McArthur.

All of the alleged victims are females and were between the ages of nine and 14 at the time of the alleged incidents, McArthur said.

The girls knew Sylvestre through his association with the Catholic Church, McArthur said. They were either involved in his parish or attended a school he was involved with, she added.

Update – November 16, 2005

Yesterday he was granted bail and released from custody with a $2000 bond with a surety (his sister, with whom he lives in Belle River) with the following conditions:

- must reside with his sister in Belle River
- cannot be around children under 16, unless accompanied by his sister, in her home
- cannot be around children under 16
- cannot apply for a passport
- has to remain in Ontario
- no communication with victims named in the court papers

Next court appearance is January 11.

Article on the front page of today's London Free Press:

Priest Faces 31 More Charges
The New Sex Abuse Counts Were Added to Five Already Facing Charles Sylvestre.

By Brian Cleeve
Special to the Free Press
November 16, 2005

CHATHAM -- A former Chatham priest is facing 36 charges of child sexual abuse, dating as far back as 1954.

Charles Sylvestre, 83, was released on $2,000 bail after his first court appearance on 31 new charges yesterday and is to return to court here Jan.

Five other charges of sexual offences against children were laid against Sylvestre in July.

Appearing sometimes dazed, the retired cleric sat through the 20-minute hearing in the prisoner's box, frequently looking at family members gathered in the courtroom.

Defence lawyer Andrew Bradie said he is waiting to see the Crown's case before Sylvestre makes any decisions about how it will be dealt with.

Sylvestre was arrested Monday at his Belle River home after 29 women complained of childhood sexual abuse.

The complainants are from Chatham, Windsor, Sarnia and London, police said.

A court-ordered ban bars publication of identifying information about the complainants and evidence given at yesterday's hearing.

Sylvestre faces charges of indecent assault, rape, sexual interference with a female under 14 and attempted rape.

Rape is a Criminal Code charge that has since been replaced by sexual assault.

The charges against Sylvestre date from 1954 to 1985.

Sylvestre worked between 1968 and 1980 at St. Ursula's Roman Catholic parish in Chatham, where he was at one time the head pastor.

He also worked at the parish of Immaculee Conception in Pain Court, west of Chatham.

 
 

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