SOUTH CAROLINA
Index-Journal
By SCOTT J. BRYAN
An alleged victim of sexual misconduct of a minor by a Catholic priest will not pursue criminal charges, a Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office report released Monday indicated.
The report, filed by the GCSO’s investigations unit, said the 32-year-old Simpsonville victim, who now lives in New York, signed a criminal investigation waiver, indicating “he did not want to further pursue the investigation.”
GCSO investigator Kenny Downing said any adult can sign a waiver not to pursue charges. Minors cannot; they must have a parent or guardian’s signature.
The allegation stemmed from a meeting the GCSO had with Diocese of Charleston investigator Paul Buceti, who met with investigators March 8.
On March 10, the Diocese of Charleston issued a release stating Father Hayden Vaverek was placed on administrative leave and had his priestly faculties withdrawn after “an allegation of sexual misconduct of a minor dating back more than 15 years.”
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