BishopAccountability.org
	Clinton Pastor Charged with Sex Abuse By Rocco LaDuca Utica Observer Dispatch July 31, 2007 http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/NEWS/707310327/1001 Clinton — The pastor at Resurrection Assembly of God recently resigned prior to being indicted last week for allegedly touching a 7-year-old girl at his residence. The Rev. William Procanick, 53, is due to be arraigned Aug. 7 on charges of felony first-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from an incident that prosecutors say occurred at his Kirkland Avenue residence in March, according to Oneida County court records. Procanick is accused of placing his hand on the young girl's buttocks and inner thigh, according to the grand jury indictment. He was arrested in April following an investigation by the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, center law enforcement coordinator Kevin Revere said. The child disclosed the incident to an adult, Revere said. Procanick resigned several months ago to protect the interest of the church, said Jim Dever chairman of the church council. "Rev. Procanick has had serious charges unfairly brought against him," Dever said in a statement issued by the church. "Because of the nature of these charges, he voluntarily submitted his resignation to the church in April." For the past 10 years, Procanick served the church and Clinton community by helping many people, Dever said. Procanick is currently free on $5,000 bail. Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Doug DeMarche Jr. is prosecuting the case and said since it's pending, it would not be appropriate to comment further. Procanick's attorney, George Aney, said his client denies any "impermissible touching" whatsoever. It is not known whether the girl's family were parishioners at the church, but Aney said the girl's mother sometimes did attend church services there. There are less than 100 people who attend the church, Dever said. Procanick and his wife first became familiar with the girl around April 2005, when they offered to help the girl's family as her mother worked to improve her life, Aney said. The girl then became a frequent guest at their house. Around the time the alleged incident occurred, the girl and her sister spent the night with Procanick when a basement flooded at the girls' home, Aney said. The girls' residence also was without heat, he said. During that time, however, nothing wrongful occurred, Aney said. "So far as I'm concerned, what we've been able to ascertain at this point is that he looked out for any child or person who was in need of any kind of help or assistance, and he was simply performing his pastoral duties," Aney said. "He denies any wrongdoing." An order of protection has been issued for Procanick to stay away from the girl, and he has not had any contact with the family since, Aney said. Meanwhile, the church is searching for a new pastor, Dever said. The Rev. Noel Cromhout of Schenectady is serving as interim pastor until a permanent replacement is found, Dever said.
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