PENNSYLVANIA
PennLIve
By The Associated Press
on April 27, 2016
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former principal of a Roman Catholic high school testified Wednesday that he was never told by a Franciscan religious order that a friar he hired as a teacher had been accused of child sexual abuse.
William Rushin spoke at the preliminary hearing of three Franciscan friars accused of allowing Brother Stephen Baker to hold jobs where he molested children or posed a threat to children.
The hearing will determine whether Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli will stand trial on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.
William Rushin was principal of Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown from 1989 to 1997.
He said he hired Baker as a religion teacher and Baker eventually volunteered as an athletic trainer.
When asked if he would have hired Baker had he known of the allegations, Rushin replied, “Obviously, it would have been inappropriate to have someone like that working with children.”
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