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	Former NH Priest Charged with Sex Assault WMUR July 7, 2011 http://www.wmur.com/news/28475626/detail.html Police have arrested a former Manchester Episcopal priest and charged him with felonious sexual assault after a two-month investigation, Bedford police said. Franklin Huntress, 78, of Marblehead, Mass., was arrested on June 30 in Massachusetts and extradited back to New Hampshire as a fugitive from justice, according to police. Police said Huntress served at Grace Church in Manchester from 1971 to 1975. Detectives said the charges stem from two incidents with a child under 13 in the 1980s in Hillsborough County. At the time, Huntress did not live in the state, but he had been invited back for a community function. "A victim came forward in May of this year, accusing a former priest of abuse back in the 1980's," Manchester Police Department Det. Rick Nanan said. Huntress retired in the 1990s but has faced multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior with children. "The allegations involve felonious sexual assault against a victim who was under the age of 13 at the time of the assault. We really can't say anything beyond that about the specifics of the allegations," said Manchester police Detective Nicole Ledoux. Reports indicated that he voluntarily resigned before he could face a church trial in Massachusetts. "It's highly possible that there are other victims out there that haven't been identified yet," Bedford Police Department Det. Matt Fleming said. Huntress was arraigned Wednesday in Hillsborough County Superior Court and released on bail Thursday. Police are asking anyone with more information to contact them. "All of us here recognize there may be other people who want to come forward, people who've had interaction with Franklin Huntress, who were involved with the church. It's highly possible there are other victims who haven't been identified yet," said Bedford Detective Matt Fleming. Detectives said church officials were cooperating with the investigation. "The message from the Diocese of New Hampshire is that, if someone's out there with a story to tell, that it's safe for them to come forward to speak with the bishop and me, to tell their story. And then we want to care for them; we want to heal whatever wounds are left over," Rev. Canon Tim Rich said. Anyone who believes he or she was victimized can call Manchester or Bedford police.
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