Retired Boise Catholic Priest Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

KIFI-TV
February 3, 2018

http://www.localnews8.com/news/crime-tracker/retired-boise-catholic-priest-arrested-for-sexual-exploitation-of-a-child/695915498

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has announced investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested a Boise man Friday, February 2, for alleged Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

72-year-old W. Thomas Faucher was being transported to the Ada County Jail following his arrest. Investigators had obtained a search warrant for Faucher’s Boise residence and executed the warrant Friday afternoon. The investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The Ada County Prosecutor’s Office assisted the ICAC Unit.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-334-4527, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.

The Diocese of Boise issued the following statement:

"The Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise has learned of the arrest of Rev. W. Thomas Faucher, retired priest and former pastor of St. Mary's Church, Boise. Because of Father Faucher's retirement three years ago, he has not held any pastoral assignments since that time. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, Faucher will be unable to minister in the Diocese of Boise in any way. The Diocese will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in their investigation."