By Stephanie Riefe
The Patch
August 26, 2011
http://simsbury.patch.com/articles/case-continued-for-priest-accused-of-sexual-assault
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The St. Bernard's Catholic Church priest accused of three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, the Rev. Edward Warnakulasuriya, appeared in Superior Court in Enfield on Friday. The case was continued until Sept. 22, said prosecutor Debra Collins.
Warnakulasuriya has hired attorney William St. John from Waterbury.
A warrant for the arrest of Warnakulasuriya says he touched an 18-year-old male inappropriately after the man had gone to the priest's residence for confession.
Warnakulasuriya, who was charged by Simsbury police on Aug. 11, was made the administrator at St. Bernard's about a year ago.
Warnakulasuriya, who is from Sri Lanka, has been placed on administrative leave by the archdiocese of Hartford and was ordered to surrender his passport at his first court appearance Aug. 12.
Contact: steph.riefe@patch.com
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