Status of Investigation into Crown Deal with Priest Unclear

Hamilton Spectator
March 15, 2013

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/903218--status-of-investigation-into-crown-deal-with-priest-unclear

More than 10 months since a Hamilton priest facing a sexual assault charge was allowed to return to his native Brazil, the Ministry of the Attorney General is not commenting on the status of the investigation into the controversial deal.

Ministry spokesperson Brendan Crawley would only say “there is nothing new to report at this time.”

He did not respond directly to questions about the status of the investigation, whether the ministry has taken any action or the status of the assistant Crown attorney in question, Carey Lee.

Reverend Jose Silva was permitted to leave Canada in early May 2012 in a deal struck between Lee and Silva’s defence lawyer, Dean Paquette.

Silva, a former guest priest at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, was facing a charge of sexual assault following a complaint by an 18-year-old musician. As part of the deal, a countrywide warrant would be issued for his arrest should he return to Canada.

Lee had taken a six-month sabbatical last year, which had been planned before the deal, but his current employment status is unclear. Lee has never returned calls for comment from The Spectator.

In calls to the Hamilton Crown attorney’s office, The Spectator was told that Lee is not in the office, that he does not have access to a voice mail and that questions about his employment should go to the Ministry of the Attorney General.