Ex-Priest, School Teacher Head to Trial, Accused of Sexually Abusing Same Boy

By Victoria Cavaliere
New York Daily News
September 4, 2012

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/justice-story/ex-priest-school-teacher-head-trial-accused-sexually-abusing-boy-article-1.1151343

Charles F. Engelhardt is charged with raping an altar boy at St. Jerome's Parish in northeast Philadelphia in the late 1990s and stands trial on Sept. 4, 2012.

Bernard G. Shero is charged with raping an altar boy at St. Jerome's Parish in northeast Philadelphia in the late 1990s and stands trial on Sept. 4, 2012.

The trial of a former priest and a parochial school teacher accused of molesting the same young boy was abruptly postponed Tuesday after a death in the family of a defense attorney.

A new trial date for Father Charles Engelhardt, 65, and ex-teacher Bernard Shero, 49. will be decided on Friday and the case will be turned over to a new judge because of scheduling conflicts.

The delay was certain to frustrate both the prosecution and the alleged victim, identified only as "Billy Doe." Billy was allegedly repeatedly molested and raped by Shero, Engelhardt, and a third priest beginning in 1998 — one of the most disturbing complaints of child sex abuse to come out of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

This was the second time the trial of Shero and Engelhardt had been delayed. The two men have pleaded not guilty.

The third attacker, ex-priest Edward Avery, pleaded guilty in March to sexual assault and was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison.

The victim, now 23, was expected to take the stand against both Shero and Engelhardt, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The court has ordered a continuing gag order prohibiting lawyers or witnesses from talking to reporters about the trial.

Billy Doe also testified earlier this year in the landmark conspiracy trial against Msgr. William J. Lynn, 61, the first U.S. church official convicted of covering up sex-abuse claims against Roman Catholic priests. Billy's ordeal helped prosecutors build a case against Lynn.

Edward Avery was kept in his parish even after Billy's allegations surfaced, prosecutors said.

For his part, the victim has led a troubled life, struggling with a drug addiction and being kicked out of two high schools. He has also been arrested on charges including shoplifting.

The young man, who only spent an hour on the witness stand during Lynn's trial, said he kept his abuse secret for years.

"I thought I did something wrong - and it's a priest," he said of Avery's assault. "I didn't think anyone would believe me."

According to the grand jury report, Engelhardt was the first to assault Billy, who referred to the abuse as "sessions." Soon after, Avery also began "sessions" with the boy.

The following school year, Shero was accused of raping Billy in a park while giving the boy a ride home.

Contact: vcavaliere@nydailynews.com