'They owed a duty of care': 3 Franciscan friars charged with allowing child sexual abuse

By Christian Alexandersen
PennLive
March 15, 2016

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/03/three_franciscan_friars_charge.html

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces criminal charges against these three Franciscan Friars Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016 in Johnstown, Pa. The three, Giles Schinelli, 73, Robert D'Aversa, 69 and Anthony Criscitelli, 61, are charged with allowing the sexual

Reporters do standup reports outside Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane's press conference at University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown campus, Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016 in Johnstown, Pa. Photo by Mark Pynes

Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. Alleged child sexual predator Stephen Baker taught or volunteered at his school from 1992 to 2010. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces criminal charges against three Franciscan Friars who assigned

Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. Alleged child sexual predator Stephen Baker taught or volunteered at his school from 1992 to 2010. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces criminal charges against three Franciscan Friars who assigned

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announces criminal charges against three Franciscan Friars Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016 in Johnstown, Pa. Photo by Mark Pynes

George Foster helped advocate for and push through the investigation into the alleged child sexual abuse of over 80 students by Franciscan Friar Stephen Baker while Baker was a teacher and athletic trainer at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. between

George Foster helped advocate for and push through the investigation into the alleged child sexual abuse of over 80 students by Franciscan Friar Stephen Baker while Baker was a teacher and athletic trainer at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. between

10 / 18 Franciscan Friar Giles A. Schinelli, 73, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy after he assigned proven child predator Brother Stephen Baker to Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. Baker allegedly sexually abused

Franciscan Friar Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy for allegedly assigning Brother Stephen Baker to work at a shopping mall where he had access to children.

Media attend a press conference by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016 in Johnstown, Pa.

Franciscan Friar Robert J. D'Aversa, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy after he failed to notify Bishop McCort High School officials and law enforcement of the reason Brother Stephen Baker was removed from the school in

JOHNSTOWN —Brother Stephen Baker molested over 100 children at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown. And when victims came forward and allegations were made, Baker's fellow Franciscan friars allegedly protected him.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced charges Tuesday against three former friars with endangering the welfare of children and conspiracy. With the help of three friars, Kane said Baker was able to continue molesting children.

The former friars being charged include Giles A. Schinelli, 73, Robert J. D'Aversa, 69, and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61. At one time, they were all members of the Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regulars, Province of the Immaculate Conception.

Baker committed suicide in 2013. The three friars being charged are retired and live outside of Pennsylvania.

Kane said the grand jury found that the three friars knew of sexual assault allegations and did not alert police. Despite allegations of assaults on children, Kane said Baker was continually put in contact with children at the high school and other places.

"Schinelli, D'Aversa and Criscitelli enganged in efforts to protect the image and reputation of the Franciscan friars rather than act in the best interest of the children they served in the organization to whom they owed a duty of care," Kane said.

The charges stem after a two-year state grand jury investigation.

The charges come two weeks after a state grand jury found found that hundreds of children were sexually abused and raped by priests and religious leaders in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

The widespread acts of abuse were perpetrated by more than 50 priests and religious leaders over the course of 40 years.

Anyone with information about sexual abuse by a priest or religious leader in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are urged to call a hotline set up by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

The hotline -- 888-538-8541 -- will be staffed by attorney general agents or attorneys fluent in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese abuse case.