Lpd Concludes Investigation into Fr. Macdonald; No Criminal Charges to Be Filed

By Joshua Scheer
County 10
December 7, 2012

http://county10.com/2012/12/06/lpd-concludes-investigation-into-fr-macdonald-no-criminal-charges-to-be-filed/


Lander Police Chief Jim Carey said the investigation into former Wyoming Catholic College Chaplain Father Stuart MacDonald has concluded and no criminal acts were found.

“No criminal charges will be filed,” Carey said Thursday morning, later adding, “Our case is now closed.”

After conducting interviews and gathering information, he said LPD found no crimes.

“We’re confident no criminal acts were committed,” Carey said.

Carey said the “allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol use, things of that nature” were reported by a male former WCC student. “The alleged victim was not a student at the time the alleged acts were committed,” he said.

Allegations only involved a single possible victim, he added.

“We would like to thank the catholic college and Father (Robert) Cook for help in resolving the issue,” Carey said.

WCC fired MacDonald on Nov. 19 for “improper conduct and language with the College’s students and a pattern of behavior unacceptable as a Catholic college chaplain,” states a news release issued on Nov. 27. He was hired in mid-August as Chaplain.

MacDonald is a Priest of the Diocese of St. Catharines in Ontario, Canada. Last month’s news release from the college states, “The United States Department of Homeland Security has been notified that Reverend MacDonald’s employment Visa should be terminated.”

WCC Vice President for Advancement Matthew Brasmer in an interview Thursday declined to comment on LPD’s investigation. He said the college had been focused on its own internal investigation into MacDonald’s “inappropriate” behavior. He said the college had “no evidence of sexual misconduct with our students.” LPD’s investigation, Brasmer said, did not play a role in WCC decision to terminate MacDonald’s employment.