February 17, 2005

Former Mass. priest accused of abuse loses extradition appeal

CANADA
Telegram & Gazette

The Associated Press

MONTREAL— A retired priest facing charges of sexually abusing children while working in Massachusetts has lost his bid to avoid deportation to the U.S.

The Quebec Court of Appeal upheld Justice Minister Irwin Cotler's decision last May to extradite the Rev. Paul Desilets, according to La Presse of Montreal.

Desilets, 81, was indicted in 2002 on charges of sexually abusing 18 altar boys between 1978 and 1984 at Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Bellingham, Mass.

He was arrested by Canadian authorities in October 2002 at the request of U.S. authorities. He faces no charges in Canada.

Posted by kshaw at February 17, 2005 07:26 AM