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	Priest, 83, to Face Sex Rap Padre up on 61 Charges Dating Back to 1954 By Jane Sims jsims@lfpress.com Toronto Sun [Canada] June 27, 2006 http://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/06/27/1655567-sun.html Chatham -- One of the largest church-based sex abuse cases in southwestern Ontario that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church may be close to being resolved. Yesterday, Ontario Court Justice Bruce Thomas set aside Aug. 3 for Charles Sylvestre, 83, of Belle River, a long-serving Roman Catholic priest who is facing sex-related charges involving 47 women while he served as a priest in Sarnia, London, Chatham and Pain Court. The day-long schedule potentially means the aged priest could plead guilty to some or all of the 61 charges he faces. Sylvestre wasn't in court yesterday, but is required to attend the August date. The charges date as far back as 1954 and extend to 1990. ARRAY OF CHARGES They include indecent assault, rape, sexual interference with a female under 14 and attempted rape. The women were between the ages of 9 and 14 at the time of the assaults. Thomas met yesterday with Chatham-Kent Crown attorney Paul Bailey and Sylvestre's defence lawyer Andrew Bradie in his chambers before yesterday's brief court hearing. But neither Bradie or Bailey would say definitively outside of court what's in store at the next court appearance. Bailey said the in-chambers meeting discussed whether the case would be resolved by guilty plea or if a trial is necessary. "All I can say is progress was made and the matter has been adjourned to Aug. 3," Bailey said. Between now and then Bradie will be meeting with his client, and Bailey will be discussing the case with the women involved. As late as last month, women were coming forward with more charges added.
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