Evans Was Catholic Priest at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
TheDenverChannel.com
March 14, 2006
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/7972976/detail.html
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Fort Collins, Colo. -- A 43-year old former priest who is accused of sexual assault on a child apparently offered bribes to an alleged victim to make the charges go away, according to a police affidavit released on Monday.
Timothy Evans served as a priest of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins at the time.
The alleged victim claims Evans offered money and gifts to make the allegations go away. The affidavit shows there may have been three victims -- two from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins and another at Spirit of the Christ Church in Arvada.
Evans, 42, served at St. Elizabeth's from 1998 to 2002.
Monsignor Thomas Fryar of the Archdiocese of Denver called Fort Collins police on March 30, 2004, to report the allegations of abuse against Evans, according to the affidavit. That may not have been the first time abuse allegations have been leveled against Evans, according to the affidavit.
One alleged victim told police the diocese moved Evans from the Arvada church to the Fort Collins church "due to an incident where Father Timothy Evans inappropriately touched a juvenile male."
But the Archdiocese disputes the claim.
"The Archdiocese of Denver does not and will not transfer any member of the clergy who has been the object of a credible allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor. Any such allegation results in prompt reporting of the allegation to police, and prompt removal of the accused from ministry," Fryar said in a released statement.
"In the case at hand, contrary to the affidavit, the Archdiocese of Denver never transferred Father Evans between parishes with the knowledge of any allegation against him of sexual misconduct. Again, the Archdiocese of Denver follows the requirements of state law and its own conduct policies rigorously and will continue to do so. The archdiocese has no priest or deacon in active ministry with a credible claim against him or in his background. We expect and pray that the legal process will move forward regarding Father Evans in a manner that will respect the rights and assure justice for all parties."
Evans faces two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust, one count of sexual assault on a child -- pattern of abuse, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
"Father Evans has been out of ministry for the past three years. He currently faces several serious charges. He maintains his innocence and, like any other citizen, has the right to be presumed innocent and have the matter resolved by a court of law," the archdiocese said.
According to the arrest affidavit, the incidents allegedly occurred between Sept. 1, 1998, and May 18, 1999.
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