July 29, 2005

Church administrator charged with sexual assault

HAWAII
KHON

Kirk Fernandes

A church administrator on Maui has been charged with sexual assault. Sixty-eight-year-old James Gonsalves is accused of molesting a boy at his parish over a three-year period.

James R. Gonsalves has been on administrative leave since the allegations surfaced last month.

Gonsalves made a court appearance today and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As a deacon, he ran the 250-member Saint Ann church, but did not preside over mass because he's not a priest.

A diocese spokesman says the alleged victim's family contacted them last month.

Posted by kshaw at July 29, 2005 08:12 AM