PENNSYLVANIA
ABC News
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Apr 27, 2016
The Latest on a hearing to decide whether three Franciscan friars should stand trial on child endangerment and other charges for their role in supervising another friar accused of molesting more than 100 children (all times local):
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3:05 p.m.
A lawyer for one of three Franciscan friars ordered to stand trial in Pennsylvania in a child endangerment case says there is no evidence his client did anything wrong.
Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli assigned or supervised another friar accused of molesting scores of children at a Catholic high school in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the 1990s.
They now face trial on charges of conspiracy and child endangerment.
Attorney Charles Porter Jr. says Schinelli investigated an allegation against Brother Stephen Baker and had him examined by a doctor, who found he had no sexual disorder. Given that, the attorney says there’s no evidence of criminal intent.
The attorneys for the other two men declined to comment after the hearing, as did all three friars.
Baker killed himself in 2013.
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2:35 p.m.
A Pennsylvania judge has ordered three Franciscan friars to stand trial on charges linked to their role supervising another friar accused of molesting scores of children.
The decision comes after more testimony Wednesday in their preliminary hearing on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.
Giles Schinelli, Robert D’Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli assigned or supervised Brother Stephen Baker when he served at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown in the 1990s. Prosecutors say they enabled him.
The defense argued that it’s too late to file charges and said their clients did their best to supervise Baker given what they knew.
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