BishopAccountability.org
	Charges against Ex-Priest Dropped Meadville Tribune March 18, 2008 http://www.meadvilletribune.com/breakingnews/local_story_078142547.html Recently-filed charges against an Oil City man accused of molesting a 10- to 12-year-old boy nearly 40 years ago have been withdrawn. The charges, filed Monday by Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville, alleged Thomas Edward Smith, 67, of 716 Innis St., Apt. 38 molested the boy — who is now a 50-year-old man — at a Paden Road, East Mead Township, residence over a two-year period while Smith was serving as a Catholic priest between Oct. 10, 1968, and Oct. 10, 1970. Under state law enacted in 2006, alleged victims of clergy abuse now have until age 50 to report their allegations. The case was withdrawn, however, because the original two-year statute of limitions in effect during the period in question had already expired, said Francis Schultz, Crawford County district attorney. Smith had been scheduled to appear before Zilhaver early next month for a preliminary hearing on misdemeanor charges of two counts of corrupting morals of children.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.