Diocese Spokesman: Attorney General's Office Executes Search Warrant at Altoona-johnstown Administrative Offices

By Dave Sutor
The Tribune-Democrat
August 8, 2015

http://www.tribdem.com/news/latest_news/diocese-spokesman-attorney-general-s-office-executes-search-warrant-at/article_2eef450c-3db2-11e5-b0fa-7bcc8ac69cba.html

HOLLIDAYSBURG - The Pennsylvania attorney general's office executed a search warrant on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown on Friday.

Officials from the AG's office would neither confirm nor deny the information.

However, diocese spokesperson Tony DeGol wrote in an email: “On Friday, agents from the state attorney general's office came to the central offices of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown to execute a search warrant. The Diocese cannot offer further comment at this time.”

The reason for the warrant execution was not known as of Saturday morning.

But it has been reported Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office is conducting an investigation into Brother Stephen Baker, who was accused of sexually abusing male students at what was then known as Bishop McCort High School. Baker served as an athletic trainer at the school from 1992 through 2001.

In late June, the attorney general's office searched the St. Bernardine Monastery, located in Newry, Blair County, where Baker is reported to have committed suicide in 2013.

That investigation came shortly after the reported suicide of Rev. David Kaczmarek, 53, who, like Baker, was associated with the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Third Order Regular Franciscans.

Settlements have been reached between more than 80 of Baker's accusers and the diocese, school and the province.

The AG's office conducted the search one day after Kane was indicted on charges of perjury, official oppression, obstruction of justice and contempt of court in a separate matter.