Priest facing 64 years in prison for molesting boys ...
Priest facing 64 years in prison for molesting boys at remote cabin he owns with police sergeant
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced criminal charges against a Catholic priest for sexual abuse committed against two young boys, the states top prosecutor announced Tuesday.
Father Poulson was charged with felony counts of indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Poulson was being held Tuesday on $300,000 cash bail, the Associated Press reported. He faces a maximum of 64 years, if convicted, and $135,000 in fines.
According to Attorney General Shapiro, Poulson used the tools of the priesthood to further his abuse.
Poulson assaulted one of his victims repeatedly in church rectories, Shapiro said at a news conference. He made that victim go to confession and confess the abuse to Poulson. This was the ultimate betrayal and manipulation by Poulson.
Charging documents (PDF) also detail alleged abuse at a remote cabin the defendant owns with Sergeant Mark Bettwy of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Poulson estimated that he took 20 trips to the cabin and that approximately one-half of those trips were made in the company of minor boys.
All of the trips with the boys required at least one overnight stay at the cabin, the court documents allege.
The Diocese of Erie knew since at least May 2010 of the abuse, PennLive reports. Poulson served the Diocese of Erie in four different parish churches, St. Agnes in Morrisdale, St. Michaels in Fryburg, St. Anthony of Padua in Cambridge Springs, and St. Bernadette, also in Cambridge Springs.