Retired Priest Held For Abuse Charges
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- A retired priest accused of sexually abusing altar boys at a Bellingham, Massachusetts church has been ordered held on 100-thousand dollars bail.
The Reverend Paul Desilets (DESS'-ih-letz) was arraigned this morning in Worcester Superior Court. He appeared by video conference with his lawyer from the Worcester County House of Correction. Not guilty pleas were entered to a 32-count indictment charging him with molesting 18 altar boys at Our Lady of Assumption Parish between 1978 and 1984.
The 81-year-old Desilets appeared frail and said nothing during the brief proceeding. Desilets was extradited from Quebec, where he had been living in a retirement home for clergy since 1984. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 13th.
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