Worcester Ex-priest Convicted of Molesting Boy Denied Medical Release

Telegram & Gazette
June 29, 2013

http://www.telegram.com/article/20130628/NEWS/130629744/1116

A defrocked Worcester priest serving time in a Texas prison for sexually abusing children has been denied early medical release, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The ex-Catholic priest, Thomas H. Teczar, 72, petitioned the parole board for early release for an undisclosed illness after having served four years of a 50-year sentence.

“Kids are safer with Teczar behind bars,” David Clohessy, director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), said in a press statement.

“Just because a predator is elderly doesn't mean he's less dangerous. And just because a predator claims he's ill doesn't mean he really is.”

Mr. Teczar was convicted on March 7, 2009, of three counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecency with a child, stemming from his molestation of an 11-year-old boy. The victim charged that he was abused by Mr. Teczar when the then-priest was assigned to St. Rita's Church in Ranger, about 90 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Mr. Teczar was sent to serve out his sentence at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas.

But he was recently admitted to a medical facility in Dickinson and continues to be treated there for the undisclosed condition. He was listed in fair condition Friday, Jason Clark, spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, told the Star-Telegram.

Texas prosecutors and victims of Mr. Teczar were informed this week that the Parole Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was considering an early parole for the former priest and asked them to provide comments on any such action.

Ordinarily, Mr. Teczar would not have been considered for parole until Oct. 23, 2019.

Texas prosecutors said Mr. Teczar has been accused of abusing at least 14 boys.

The victim, who at the time lived across the street from the church rectory, told authorities he was enticed into having sex, by threats and promises that included gifts of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes.

The parole board's release denial was announced Friday.

"We hope this decision will inspire and prod other victims of child sex crimes to report to law enforcement." Mr. Clohessy said. "It's an important reminder to often-hopeless victims that the bad guys don't always prevail."