Former Blossburg Priest Turns Himself in

Star-Gazette
June 21, 2012

http://www.stargazette.com/article/20120620/NEWS01/206200358/Former-Blossburg-priest-turns-himself-in?odyssey=nav|head&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

The Rev. Thomas P. Shoback / Provided

The former Blossburg Catholic priest accused of molesting an altar boy between 1991 and 1997 turned himself in for arraignment Wednesday.

The Rev. Thomas Shoback, 61, now of Wilkes-Barre, was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before District Judge James Carlson in Mansfield, according to state police at Mansfield.

He was released on $35,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing at 1:15 p.m. July 25 before Carlson.

Shoback faces 32 criminal charges in the sexual abuse case involving a parishioner at St. Mary's Catholic Church, where Shoback was parish priest. He has since served at other parishes in Pennsylvania, police said.

The charges include nine felony violations of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and endangering the welfare of a child.

The victim was between 11 and 17 years old when the abuse occurred.

The incidents reportedly took place at 138 St. Mary's St. in Blossburg and at a private cabin in Farmington Township in Tioga County, Pa., said police.