South Jersey Priest Sexually Abused Teen Boy: Police

NEW JERSEY
CSNPhilly

August 21, 2014

A South Jersey priest is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy on more than one occasion.

Police arrested 67-year-old Reverend Romannilo Apura Thursday and charged him with aggravated criminal sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child and other related offenses.

Apura sexually abused the teen in a Trenton home sometime in late spring of this year, according to police. The suspect then attempted to remove the same victim’s pants in a separate incident in June 2014, according to authorities.

Officials with the Diocese of Trenton learned of the allegations against Apura Monday and immediately turned the complaint, the first against the suspect, over to authorities, according to a Diocese spokeswoman.

The suspect had served as the pastor of St. Martha Parish in Point Pleasant, Ocean County since July 2012, a Diocese spokeswoman said.

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