Former Pembroke Priest Indicted on Child Sex Charge

By Bryan County Now
Savannah Morning News
November 16, 2012

http://savannahnow.com/bryan-county-now/2012-11-16/former-pembroke-priest-indicted-child-sex-charges#.UKdDA4YY3tQ

Rev. Bob Poandl

A priest who once worked at Holy Cross Church in Pembroke, Fr. Robert Poandl, was indicted by federal authorities on child sex crimes Thursday.

According to the Associated Press the Rev. Robert Poandl, of the Cincinnati-based Glenmary Home Missioners, voluntarily surrendered to authorities after he learned of the charges and was in Butler County Jail in southwest Ohio following an order by a federal magistrate judge that he be taken into custody.

The indictment against Poandl, opened in Cincinnati federal court on Wednesday, accused the priest of taking a 10-year-old boy to West Virginia for sex in 1991.

A statement released by Glenmary, said Poandl was serving as pastor of Glenmary's missions in Claxton, Pembroke and Sand Hill until Feb. 11 of this year when he was relieved of his ministerial duties following an allegation of sexual misconduct.

This is not the first time Poandl has faced sexual abuse charges.

According to the Glenmary statement the current charges are related to a June 2009 accusation of sexual misconduct with a minor that was said to have occurred in 1991.

However those 2009 charges were dismissed, and Poandl’s record expunged by a West Virginia court in 2010; after which he returned to active ministry.