August 11, 2005

Catholic priest sentenced to probation for attempted sex abuse

NEW YORK
Times Leader

Associated Press

NEW YORK - A Pennsylvania priest who pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse for groping a former altar boy on an overnight trip to New York City was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years probation, authorities said.

Albert Liberatore Jr., of Scranton, Pa., admitted groping the boy in a hotel room in May 2002.

The Roman Catholic priest had earlier pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to sexually assaulting the same boy and was sentenced in June to five years probation.

The victim told police he became involved with the priest when he was an eighth-grade altar boy at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Duryea, Pa. Investigators said the victim said he met the priest for dinners, slept at the rectory and went with him on trips to New York.

Posted by kshaw at August 11, 2005 06:12 AM