Ministry Continues to Probe Deal That Let Priest Avoid Sex Charge

Hamilton Spectator
October 10, 2012

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/815203--ministry-continues-to-probe-deal-that-let-priest-avoid-sex-charge

Nearly six months after a priest facing a sexual assault charge was permitted to return to his native Brazil in a controversial Crown deal, the Ministry of the Attorney General continues to investigate the circumstances.

Ministry spokesperson Brendan Crawley told The Spectator recently that the controversial deal that permitted Reverend Jose Silva to return to Brazil and escape prosecution last May is still being investigated.

At the time, Crawley acknowledged that the deal crafted by defence counsel Dean Paquette and assistant Crown attorney Carey Lee was "not common practice" and would be the subject of a ministry probe.

Silva, a guest priest at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, was charged with one count of sexual assault Sept. 22, 2011, after a complaint by an 18-year-old musician.

But Silva was permitted to leave Canada in early May. As part of the deal, a Canada-wide warrant will be issued for his arrest should he return to this country.

Lee is on a six-month sabbatical and has not returned repeated calls seeking comment.

The Hamilton Crown attorney's office has referred all comment to the ministry. Crawley has repeatedly declined to provide a timeline on when the ministry will share its findings from the investigation.