priest, Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton, Alberta. Married. Ordained 1988. 2009 charged with sex offences related to young girl. Charges stayed.
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Priest’s sex charges stayed by the Crown
Edmontonsun.com
Last Updated: September 29, 2009 2:49am
By TONY BLAIS, COURT BUREAU
Criminal charges were stayed yesterday against a long-serving Edmonton-area reverend who was accused of sexual offences against a young girl.
On the day his trial was slated to begin in provincial court, the Crown stayed charges of sexual assault and sexual interference against Rev. Donald Orest Bodnar, 55.
No reason was given in court for the stay of proceedings, however a stay means the charges can be reactivated by police for up to a year.
Bodnar, a Ukrainian Catholic priest who was last serving in Athabasca, was charged in January and then placed on administrative leave by the church.
Bodnar has served as a deacon or pastor for four Ukrainian Catholic churches around Edmonton for 28 years.
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