WORCESTER (MA)
Telegram & Gazette
By Bronislaus B. Kush, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
WORCESTER — Thomas H. Teczar, the defrocked Worcester priest who is serving a 50-year sentence in Texas for molesting an 11-year-old boy more than 20 years ago, may be released from prison because of medical problems afflicting the ex-clergyman.
Mr. Teczar, who was also publicly accused of sexually assaulting at least two Central Massachusetts boys, was formally removed from the priesthood by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2011.
Texas prosecutors and victims of Mr. Teczar were informed this week that the Parole Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is considering an early parole for the former priest and asked them to provide comments on any such action.
Ordinarily, Mr. Teczar would not be considered for parole until Oct. 23, 2019.
“I don’t know how they can possibly consider doing this,” said Dallas lawyer Tahira Khan Merritt, who represented eight of Mr. Teczar’s victims in civil litigation and who was later appointed a special prosecutor in Eastland County, Texas, for Mr. Teczar’s criminal case.
She said the recidivism rate for pedophiles is high and wondered how authorities would monitor Mr. Teczar, were he to be released.
Ms. Merritt said Mr. Teczar has been accused of abusing at least 14 boys.
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