Somerville Priest Accused of Abusing Child

WCVB
September 8, 2012

www.wcvb.com/news/local/metro/Somerville-priest-accused-of-abusing-child/-/11971628/16527070/-/7klen0/-/index.html

Rev. Paul A. LaCharite Somerville Police

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — An Episcopal priest, formerly of St. James Episcopal Church in Somerville, has been arrested and accused of abusing a child.

The Rev. Paul A. LaCharite, 65, of Boston, was arrested Friday on one count of assault to rape a child and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.

"We allege that this defendant, holding a trusted position within the Episcopal Church, indecently assaulted and touched the victim over several years, only ending his 10-year-long predatory abuse of the victim when the defendant left the church," Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said.

The victim and his family were longtime parishioners at St. James Episcopal Church. In the 1990s, beginning when the victim was in elementary school, LaCharite began inappropriately touching the victim in his office, police said.

The conduct is alleged to have progressed over a 10-year period to include several indecent assault and batteries and assaults with the intent to rape a child. The abuse finally ended when LaCharite left St. James, officials said.

The victim came forward to authorities this week.

The investigation remains ongoing. Members of the public who believe that they may have information that could be helpful to the investigation can call Somerville police at 617-625-1212 or the Middlesex District Attorney's Office Child Abuse Unit at 781-897-8400.