Judge Releases Fairfield Priest on Bond

Fox 19
November 19, 2012

http://butlercounty.fox19.com/news/news/100829-judge-releases-fairfield-priest-bond

Robert Frank Poandl

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19)- With a call for a bible verse written on his chest, a former Cincinnati-area priest appeared in court on Monday to plead not guilty for a child sex charge.

A federal grand jury has charged Robert Frank Poandl, 71, of Fairfield with one count of transportation of a minor across state lines for illicit purposes.

Poandl, who is also known as "Father Bob," was arrested by FBI agents at the Glenmary Missioners in Fairfield.

The indictment alleges that in August 1991, Poandl took a 10-year old boy from Cincinnati to West Virginia to engage in sexual activity with him.

After these allegations arose, Poandl was removed from his position in Atlanta.

He arrived in Cincinnati on Feb. 13 and was not allowed to publicly function as a Catholic priest during the investigation process.

After the charges were filed, Poandl was detained.

At his hearing in Hamilton County Federal Court, the judge released Father Poandl on bond.

The judge is allowing Poandl to return back to his home at Glenmary Missioners in Fairfield. He's allowed to attend chapel, just not when the public is there.

The judge is putting him on home monitoring and he has to surrender his passport and any internet-enabled devices.