A Roman Catholic Priest Found Guilty of Sex Related Charges Earlier This Year Is Dead.

CKWS
August 26, 2014

http://www.ckwstv.com/2014/08/26/priest-convicted-of-sex-related-crimes-found-dead-in-west-end-apartment/

A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST FOUND GUILTY OF SEX RELATED CHARGES EARLIER THIS YEAR IS DEAD.

FATHER RENE LABELLE’S BODY WAS DISCOVERED IN A WEST END APARTMENT LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON.

AS NEWSWATCH’S MORGANNE CAMPBELL REPORTS LABELLE WAS FREE ON BAIL, WAITING FOR AN APPEAL.

It was here in an apartment building on Norwest Road where Father Rene Labelle’s lifeless body was discovered Monday. Police don’t suspect foul play and it’s been suggested the Priest took his own life.

A sad day for those at the Archdioceses in KIngston. In a prepared statement the organization said,

“We are saddened to learn that Father Rene Labelle was found dead in his Kingston apartment.”

The church stated Labelle was 65 years old and had been priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston for 36 years.

Adding.

“We ask for your prayers for him and for his family.”

In January, Labelle was convicted on three sex related charges. It was revealed during trial the Priest sexually abused a teenage boy in his church residence on Wolfe Island back in the mid 2000?s. The boy, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, testified that Labelle fondled him and made him touch him

inappropriately. Labelle was sentenced to 16 months in provincial prison and 30 months probation.

He wasn’t in custody long, his lawyer filed an appeal and the 65 year old was released from custody on bail.

Labelle’s lawyer says he doesn’t know the official cause of death, declining to comment further.

“Obviously, I have a point of view but this is a situation where “No further comment” would seem to me to be the best course to follow presently.”

“As for Labelle’s appeal, his lawyer John Ecclestone explained through email that an application for abandonment will need to be filed with the Ontario Court of Appeal. What that does is essentially terminates the appeal.

Morganne Campbell CKWS Newswatch Kingston.”