MOBILE, AL (WALA) -

On Friday a Mobile County judge ruled Father Johnny Savoie, a priest at St. Pius X Catholic School, must appear for a deposition regarding past sexual misconduct allegations. Furthermore, according to the order, the Baldwin County District Attorney's Office will be required to turn over any statements the Archdiocese sent to its office in reference to those past sex allegations, which allegedly happened in 2005.

This, after attorneys representing four parents in a bullying case against St. Pius X found a statement made by Savoie to his parish last year, admitting that he was being accused of the sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old boy in 2005. He denied the allegations in that statement, according to court documents.

Judge Sarah Stewart ruled in Friday's court order that those past sex allegations are relevant to the bullying case, where four parents are suing the school, saying school administrators, including Savoie, did not stop their children from being bullied. 

"The allegations before the Court are that Father Savoie, a party, either engaged in, or tolerated, the abuse of a child while acting as a principal of the school, also a party," wrote Judge Stewart. "Therefore, the Court finds the 2005 allegation relevant for the purposes of limited discovery."

The alleged misconduct was said to have occurred over a two-year period some 10 years ago when Savoie was working as a priest at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, according to court documents.

In an interview with the Baldwin County District Attorney, Hallie Dixon, FOX10 learned her office had been notified by the Archdiocese of Mobile last year when the boy, now an adult, made a report to Father James Cink, head of Child Protection Services with the Archdiocese of Mobile.

Dixon said her office found no evidence of criminal activity, as the reported misconduct was said to have happened from the time the boy was 16 to 18 years of age, and the alleged sexual relationship was found to be consensual. Because there was no insinuation of a crime, said Dixon, the DA's office did not pursue any investigation of the misconduct.

In Judge Sarah Stewart's Friday court ruling, Savoie will be required to appear for a deposition on Monday morning, March 30, to give testimony about the alleged misconduct. Judge Stewart also ruled that Dixon will be required to submit letters sent to her office by the Archdiocese, as those letters do not reveal any sensitive details that would be protected by attorney-client privilege.

“According to the District Attorney's statement to the press, the reports are not investigative reports or the testimony of a law enforcement officer, and are not privileged in that matter either,” wrote Judge Stewart.

The court order also shows that Judge Stewart ruled Father Cink will be required to respond to court requests, including the submission of communication between himself and the boy who reported the alleged misconduct.

FOX10 News has reached out to Father Savoie, Father Cink, the Archbishop of Mobile, and their attorneys for comment, but so far, our calls have not been returned. FOX10 has also asked the plaintiff's attorneys for a comment about the case, but they declined any interview.