LITTLE Ferry Priest Arrested after Allegedly Aiming Musket at 8-year-old Boy

By James M. O'neill
The Record
October 2, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/news/little-ferry-priest-arrested-after-allegedly-aiming-musket-at-8-year-old-boy-1.1424434

A Catholic priest in Little Ferry was arrested Friday after allegedly aiming a functioning Civil War style musket at an 8-year-old boy.

Rev. Kevin Carter

The Rev. Kevin Carter, 54, pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona Catholic Church, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

The incident allegedly occurred when the boy and several family members arrived for Mass on Sept. 13.

Carter asked to see the boy in one of the rectory’s rooms and had him stand against a wall, Molinelli said in a press release. The priest then got out a long gun and pointed it at the child with an indication he would shoot, Molinelli said.

Several witnesses standing outside the room saw the incident take place, according to the release.

During a search of Carter’s room at the rectory on Friday, the musket was found, along with gunpowder, ammunition and other items related to the gun, Molinelli said. Carter was arrested, and was being held at the Little Ferry police station Friday evening. Bail has been set at $15,000 with the stipulation that Carter have no contact with the child and that he surrender all firearms.

Carter has been assigned to St. Margaret’s since February of 2013, and oversaw major renovations to the church as the parish recovered from the effects of Superstorm Sandy. During the storm, water had reached as high as the pew seats and damaged the floor, part of the walls and the organ.

In August of 2013, at a rededication of the church, Carter had said, “There's been so much negativity. This is the church at its best."

This past January, Carter was installed as the chaplain for the Little Ferry Police Department.

He was ordained in Newark in 1986. His prior assignments have included St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Wyckoff, St. John’s Catholic Church in Hillsdale, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oakland, St. Luke in Ho-Ho-Kus, and St. Nicholas in Jersey City.

Molinelli’s office first became aware of the alleged incident after a parishioner from St. Margaret’s notified the Newark Archdiocese about it on Sept. 25. On Sept. 28, the Archdiocese notified Molinelli’s office.

A special victims unit from the prosecutor’s office joined with Little Ferry Police Department to investigate.

Email: oneillj@northjersey.com