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  Priest May Face More Charges
Kane Prosecutors Investigating Other Sex Allegations

By Don Babwin
Chicago Tribune
September 24, 1993

Authorities are looking into allegations that an Aurora priest charged with sexually assaulting a teenager engaged in similar acts with others, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Kane County Assistant State's Atty. John Barsanti said his office has "been getting information from the community" about Rev. Augustine K. Jones ever since a grand jury indicted the priest last month.

Barsanti, who made his statements during a brief court hearing, did not elaborate. And after the hearing, he declined to discuss the allegations or how many possible victims there may be, saying it was a "very delicate" matter.

Barsanti did say that none of the alleged incidents occurred within the "last couple of years."

Meanwhile, David Camic, Jones' attorney, said he did not know about any new allegations.

"We haven't been given any indication what they're talking about," he said.

Jones, 71, has been charged with four felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a teenage boy in connection with an alleged incident that occurred three years ago. Jones allegedly sexually assaulted the 15-year-old boy at St. Therese Catholic Church in Aurora, where Jones had gone to say mass.

Jones, a member of Marmion Abbey, an independent Benedictine order, pleaded guilty in 1968 to a similar charge. In that incident, Jones suggested to a youth that the two go swimming. Jones swam up behind the boy and put his arms around him. He was arrested several hours later.

After his arrest, officials at Marmion Military Academy, where Jones was a teacher at the time, removed him from the faculty in the hopes that such a move would prevent further contact with students.

Kane County Circuit Judge James Doyle ordered that Jones return to court Nov. 4 to give Barsanti time to complete his investigation.

Jones, who appeared in court wearing a black suit and clerical collar, left the courthouse immediately after the hearing without commenting on the possibility of new allegations. He remains free without bail.

 
 

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