Former Priest Charged with Sex Abuse

By Heather Kovar
CBS 6 News WRGB
September 6, 2017

http://cbs6albany.com/news/local/da-man-charged-with-sex-crimes-against-children

-Michael Hands was arraigned in Saratoga County Court Tuesday, charged on nine counts involving sexual conduct with a minor.

Saratoga County DA Karen Heggen says the alleged crimes happened in July.

"Generally what occurred in this case is that we believe that the defendant allegedly made contact with a minor over the internet, and subsequently made plans to meet with that minor in person," she said

DA Heggen says they believe Hands met up with the minor in an undisclosed location in Charlton.

Hands is a level three sex offender- with prior convictions in 2002 and 2003 on Long Island.

We spoke with attorney Michael G. Dowd on the phone, he's an attorney who has represented a prior victim of Hands.

However, he says Hands took a plea, and helped the Suffolk County DA bring to light cases in the Rockville Centre Diocese.

"This was landmark investigations exposing the depth of corruption in the Catholic Church in that diocese," he said.

DA Heggen says they're uncertain whether there are any other victims.

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