Fr. W. Vincent Bechtel
Named publicly by the Baltimore archdiocese on its list 4/24/2019. The Diocese of Harrisburg told Baltimore in 2018 of a claim of sex abuse against Bechtel, occurring while assigned to Mt. St. Joseph High School. Bechtel worked at the school 1979-1989. More allegations of abuse while at Mt. St. Joseph followed. Bechtel died in 1994. Included in the MD Attorney General’s Report 4/5/2023, which shows two separate reports in 1986 by teen boys (both former St. Joseph’s students) to their counselors of ‘solicitation by Bechtel. No action. The 2018 reports were from a mother who said her two boys were abused by Bechtel while Mt. St. Joseph’s students, and from a former student who said Bechtel fondled him in 1987 or 1988 when he was age 15 or 16.
Return to main database page. See abbreviations and posting policy. Send corrections.
Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.