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	Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Sex Charge By Johnell Johnson News 14 February 2, 2009 http://news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/604397/former-priest-pleads-guilty-to-sex-charge/Default.aspx [with video] CHARLOTTE — The former Catholic priest from Charlotte who was accused of molesting a 14-year-old boy a decade ago has pleaded guilty. Police charged 44-year-old Robert Yurgel with five counts of indecent liberties with a minor and two counts of statutory rape. Investigators say all of the incidents occurred over a two-year period starting in 1998. Police arrested Yurgel in 2008 after the victim reported the abuse. At the time, Yurgel was serving as a priest in New Jersey. Monday, Yurgel pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sex offense, and will now serve 90 to 120 months behind bars. Officials say the incidents in question occurred when Yurgel had sexual contact with the boy while at the rectory of Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte. Assistant District Attorney Kelly Miller said a taped phone call helped to put Yurgel behind bars. "He was very sorry and that he knew it was wrong and that it was even legally wrong," Miller said. "He mentioned in the phone call that he wishes he could take it back." In court Monday, Yurgel did not speak. But the victim and his family read a statement to jurors. "For the past decade I have lived in fear of you: I feared what you would do to me if I ever told anybody what you did to me," said the victim. "You made me believe my family would be mad at me and they would hate me, but I stand here today to make a liar out of you. "My family did believe me, my family did not get mad at me and my family still loves me. Today I take back my life." The victim and his mother spoke out in court in an effort to help potential victims. David Hains, with the diocese of Charlotte, said he also wants victims to come forward. "This is a sinful crime and as a church it's very painful for us to have a situation like this, but we want some good to come out of it," Hains said.
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