Parish Priest Charged with Molesting Children

KARE
September 21, 2012

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/991962/391/Parish-priest-charged-with-molesting-children?odyssey=tab|topnews|bc|large


ST. PAUL, Minn. - A St. Paul parish priest is charged with criminal sexual conduct for allegedly molesting children under the age of 16.

Curtis Carl Wehmeyer, 47, faces three separate counts involving sexual acts on two brothers, now ages 15 and 16.

The criminal complaint says Wehmeyer, then priest at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, abused the boys inside his camper trailer parked in the church parking lot and on a camping trip.

The victims tell prosecutors that during the summer of 2010 Wehmeyer provided them with alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, showed them pornographic images and videos on his computer then fondled them and masturbated in front of them.

One of the boys says Wehmeyer told them if the spoke of the sexual conduct he would lose his job and the parish would fall apart.

When confronted about his activities by police Wehmeyer allegedly told the victims' mother that they were telling the truth, and that he would quit and plead guilty to spare the family embarrassment.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a statement on the charges against Wehmeyer. It reads;

On June 21, the archdiocese immediately removed Wehmeyer from his ministerial duties, and since that date, he has not practiced any ministry in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The archdiocese cooperated fully with the ensuing police investigation, and learned only today that Wehmeyer had been formally charged.

The archdiocese deeply regrets the pain caused by clergy misconduct or by others within the Church, and is offering its support and assistance to all concerned.

If convicted Curtis Wehmeyer faces a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.