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	Parishioners Rally behind Accused Priest By Don Stacom and Hilda Munoz Hartford Courant [New Britain CT] May 11, 2006 http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctnebpriest0511.art may11,0,6385982.story?coll=hc-headlines-local NEW BRITAIN -- A small group of parishioners spent Wednesday trying to organize a show of support Sunday for the Rev. Krikoris Keshishian, the longtime priest at St. Stephen's Apostolic Armenian Church who was charged Tuesday with molesting a 12-year-old girl. "Several parishioners on their own are calling the list of church members, asking them if at all possible to come to church on Mother's Day as a show of solidarity for the priest," said George Rustigian, adviser to St. Stephen's trustees. Keshishian is scheduled to lead the services at 10 a.m. at the church on Tremont Street. Keshishian, 53, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He was driving to Massachusetts to meet with a priest who has been assigned by the Armenian Prelacy in New York to investigate the incident,according to a church leader. Armenian church officials declined to say much about the case. Vazken Ghougasian, first secretary at the Armenian Prelacy in New York, said the church doesn't know enough about the allegations to discuss them. Rustigian said it would be premature for the St. Stephen's board to comment. "We don't really know the context of the charges," Rustigian said. "But I can say he is innocent until proven guilty. He is our pastor and the spiritual leader in our community. Just as much as he needs us, we need him. We're the only congregation he has, he's the only pastor we have." Police said Keshishian inappropriately touched the girl while acting in his official capacity. He is charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and impairing the morals of a child by sexual contact, and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23. Fourth-degree sexual assault is a felony punishable by one to five years in prison. The charge stems from a single incident in May 2005, but there may be more counts involving the same victim, said police Sgt. Michael Baden. The girl reported the alleged abuse to relative, who then called police, according to Baden. One St. Stephen's leaders said Keshishian is "very distraught, as is his wife." The man said Keshishian will remain as priest, but has been directed by the church to have no unsupervised contact with children until the case is resolved. Lifelong church member Lila Winters said Wednesday that she and other parishioners were "devastated" by the arrest. "There is no way in hell he did something like this," Winters said. "He is warm and affectionate, but not inappropriate. He is the backbone of our church. Something just doesn't seem right about this." Winters and two other church members have said they believe the charge stems from a day when Keshishian grabbed a girl after she fell - or as she was falling - from a table. They say other children were nearby, and that Keshishian only touched the girl while trying to help her.
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