The Rev. David Lawlor, 59, of Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, turned himself in to police Wednesday morning and was arraigned before District Justice John Anthony on charges of indecent assault, disorderly conduct and related criminal offenses.

Easttown Township Police had been investigating allegations that arose in late November in connection with an incident of reported physical contact between Lawlor and the mentally challenged man that occurred in the pool area of the recreation center. The investigation turned up a second victim, also at the YMCA, who was allegedly propositioned by Lawlor on the same day.

When he was interviewed by police investigators, Lawlor denied that he fondled the victim, but admitted that he rubbed the man’s knee and said that his behavior was "compulsive and inappropriate."

"(Lawlor) stated that he was willing to undergo any type of counseling," reported Easttown police Officer David Obzud in the criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

Lawlor was released on $5,000 unsecured bail. His attorney, Samuel C. Stretton, said the allegations were not true.

The Rev. Ronald J. Rossi, head of Daylesford Abbey, which serves parishes in Paoli and South Philadelphia, said Lawlor was temporarily suspended and relieved of ministerial duties. Due to medical problems, Lawlor had only occasionally filled in for other priests, Rossi said.

The Upper Main Line YMCA has suspended Lawlor’s membership while the matter is being sorted, said Joe Tankle, the center’s chief executive officer.

"The safety of our members and staff is paramount to us," Tankle said. "Easttown police have been very cooperative with us, as we have with them."

Police did not release the names of either victim. Easttown police Chief Tom Armstrong said the investigation is ongoing.

The investigation began on Nov. 26, when a man reported to Easttown police that he had been assaulted while at the Upper Main Line YMCA on Berwyn Paoli Road two days earlier, when he was in the whirlpool spa.

The alleged victim said that Lawlor approached him and, having noticed that the victim walked with a limp, asked if he needed help or if he was hurt. The victim declined the offer and the two men went their separate ways.

Moments later, the victim went into to the whirlpool located in the Men’s Plus Center. Lawlor allegedly entered the pool as well. The two men were alone when Lawlor allegedly asked the victim if he was in pain and if he would like his knee rubbed. The victim consented and Lawlor reportedly began to rub his knee.

The victim reported that his underpants were pulled off and Lawlor fondled him, police said.

The victim was "scared and shocked and did not know what to do," police said. He went to the shower, but Lawlor allegedly followed him and asked "if he was OK," according to court documents.

"The victim stated that he was fine and quickly left the YMCA," the police report.

On Nov. 30, the victim called police from the YMCA and reported that the man who assaulted him was there. He pointed Lawlor out to the officers who responded, and Lawlor agreed to accompany them to the Easttown police station to talk about the incident, police said.

According to the police report, Lawlor initially denied that he was ever in the whirlpool on the day in question and said that it was drained at the time. He later recanted that statement and said he was alone and that "he ‘did not have relations with anybody in the whirlpool,’" police said.

He eventually admitted that he was in the pool with the victim, but said he only rubbed the man’s knee.

Last week, police interviewed another man who was in the whirlpool at a different time on Nov. 24. He said that Lawlor and a second man -- who was not identified in court records or by police -- were also in the pool. Lawlor allegedly moved next to the man and touched him inappropriately, but the man grabbed Lawlor’s hand and pushed it away, then got up and left the whirlpool.

The man did not know Lawlor at the time, authorities said, but identified him in a photo line-up at the police station. It is not clear if the third person was still in the area at the time of the alleged attempted assault.

Lawlor faces one count each of indecent assault, stalking and attempted indecent assault, and two counts of disorderly conduct and harassment. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled before District Justice John Anthony in Devon on Jan. 21, 2003.