3 Franciscan friars surrender in child endangerment case

Published March 18, 2016

Three Franciscan friars charged with allowing a suspected sexual predator to hold jobs where he molested more than 100 children have surrendered in Pennsylvania on child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

Robert D'Aversa, Anthony Criscitelli and Giles Schinelli are due to be arraigned Friday morning.

State prosecutors say Schinelli assigned Brother Stephen Baker to Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, where he molested students from 1992 to 2000.

D'Aversa and Criscitelli also headed Baker's Franciscan order based near Hollidaysburg. They are charged with continuing to allow Baker to teach or have access to the school and its students.

Baker killed himself in January 2013 when Ohio church officials announced he'd molested students there in the 1980s. That prompted the McCort victims to come forward.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/3-franciscan-friars-surrender-in-child-endangerment-case