Former Local Priest Arrested in Child Sex Sting

Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
September 22, 2012

http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/article/20120921/NEWS01/120921002/Former-local-priest-arrested-child-sex-sting?nclick_check=1


COLUMBUS — A former area priest has been arrested by Franklin County Sheriff's Office on sex charges.

Patrick Hughes, also known as Rev. Nicholas Hughes, was arrested Wednesday night. Police said he was arrested by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children task force on suspicion of attempted rape and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Hughes served at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Mansfield. He had lived at St. Theodore House, a small monastery in Galion. He left there in 2009.

He most recently had been a priest with a Greek Orthodox church in Columbus.
Sheriff Zach Scott said the investigation began earlier in the day when Hughes allegedly posted an ad on an adult social networking site.

The nature of the ad was indicative of someone looking for sexual relations with children. A detective responded to the ad and began communicating with Hughes.

During the conversation, Hughes believed he was setting up a meeting with two juvenile boys, ages 9 and 14, for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity.

Hughes was arrested when he traveled to a pre-arranged location in Franklin County under the pretense of meeting the boys. Later that night, investigators searched Hughes' north Columbus hotel room, where they recovered a laptop computer. The computer will be examined.

Galion police Detective Eric Bohach said there are no other local priests involved in this incident.

"We've talked to people here and there is no indication that anybody else is involved," Bohach said.

Hughes, 56, is acting dean at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

If anyone local has information on Hughes, they should call the Galion Police Department 419-468-5255 or the Franklin County Sheriff's Office 614-525-3448.