Jasper priest accused of molesting disabled man facing criminal charges

JASPER, Indiana --
A 52-year-old Roman Catholic priest from St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jasper, was arrested Thursday afternoon by the Indiana State Police and faces five criminal charges after being accused of molesting a 19-year-old mentally disabled man.

According to an ISP press release, Father Wilfred L. Englert, pastor of the Jasper church, turned himself in at Dubois County Circuit Court, in Jasper, after an almost month-long investigation by the ISP following allegations of sexual abuse by a 19-year-old mentally disabled man.

A criminal investigation began on July 18 after the alleged victim told police that Englert had abused him several times between April and June 2005, according to police.

The alleged molestations took place while Enlglert and the disabled man, whom police said had been friends for about a year, were camping at Patoka Lake in Orange County and at other times at a Dubois County residence.

Read the article at Abuse Tracker 2005B dated 08/12/05

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