ALABAMA
WSFA
By Kati Weis, FOX10 News Reporter
MOBILE, AL (WALA) –
On Friday a Mobile County judge ruled Father Johnny Savoie, a priest at St. Pius X Catholic School, must appear for a deposition regarding past sexual misconduct allegations. Furthermore, according to the order, the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office will be required to turn over any statements the Archdiocese sent to its office in reference to those past sex allegations, which allegedly happened in 2005.
This, after attorneys representing four parents in a bullying case against St. Pius X found a statement made by Savoie to his parish last year, admitting that he was being accused of the sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old boy in 2005. He denied the allegations in that statement, according to court documents.
Judge Sarah Stewart ruled in Friday’s court order that those past sex allegations are relevant to the bullying case, where four parents are suing the school, saying school administrators, including Savoie, did not stop their children from being bullied.
“The allegations before the Court are that Father Savoie, a party, either engaged in, or tolerated, the abuse of a child while acting as a principal of the school, also a party,” wrote Judge Stewart. “Therefore, the Court finds the 2005 allegation relevant for the purposes of limited discovery.”
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