January 14, 2005

County drops ex-priest sex case

OHIO
Post-Tribune

Jan. 14, 2005

By John Grant Emeigh / Post-Tribune staff writer

Lake County will not pursue charges against a former Crown Point priest, despite the priest’s admission to church officials that he engaged in sexual activity with a Gary pre-teen more than 30 years ago.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter said Thursday that the priest’s accuser has not cooperated with investigators since the allegation first came to light in 2003.

Monsignor Don Grass, who served as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Crown Point since 1983, was removed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary in December 2003 after admitting the accusation against him was true, diocese officials say. The alleged molestation occurred while Grass was assigned to the Cathedral of Holy Angels in Gary sometime in the 1960s.

Carter said Thursday the diocese contacted him about the accusation in late 2003 and an investigation was started by the Gary Police Department.

Posted by kshaw at January 14, 2005 07:40 AM