As promised, an update on the Father Amer Saka charges.
Father Saka, a priest with the Chaldean Catholic Church in Canada in London Ontario, allegedly gambled away refugee funds. On 13 July 2016 Father Saka was charged with fraud over $5,000 and possessing proceeds of property or thing exceeding $5,000. Police will say only that the total sum of money ‘lost’ was in excess of $500,000.
The next court date for Father Saka is:
20 October 2016: 09:30 am, “to be spoken to,” London Ontario courthouse (80 Dundas St.)
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An update on Father Yvon Arsenault
Father Arsenault, a priest with the Archdiocese of Moncton, New Brunswick, ordained 1968, was very quietly removed from his parish in August 2012. Eventually charges were laid, in Both Moncton and the Miramichi. A trial date was set in Moncton. A tentative trial date was set in the Miramichi.
There has been a change in the Moncton trial dates. The 29-day trial is now scheduled to start 24 October 2016 running through to 01 December 2016:
24 October – 01 December 2016: 09:30 am, TRIAL Moncton Courthouse Moncton NB (45 Assumption Blvd)
The Miramichi N.B. trial dates tentatively booked for 21-24 February 2017 still stand as tentative. I will continue to check periodically to see if those change.
Please keep the many complainants in your prayers.
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Can anyone provide further information on Jose Hernandez’ years at St Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Brantford Ontario? This is Jose Hernandez, the music teacher referenced in the article below who was recently charged in Ottawa Ontario. I have been told that for a number of years in perhaps the 90s he ran both the children and adult choirs and played at five Masses on the weekends at St. Pius X. I believe he was there at the same time as Father Fran Manno cr, a Ressurectionist priest who left the priesthood?
I will be adding Jose Hernandez’ name to the list of Non-Clerical Catholic charged, sued or accused. Anyone help anyone can provide by way of background would be very helpful.
Third sex assault charge for former Ottawa music teacher
Jose Hernandez, 70, faces two previous sexual assault charges following allegations he inappropriately touched two of his students while teaching at a private music studio in Ottawa.
A former Ottawa music teacher faces an additional sexual assault charge after police investigated new allegations against the man, who now lives in Brantford.
Jose Hernandez, 70, faces two previous sexual assault charges following allegations he inappropriately touched two of his students while teaching at a private music studio in Ottawa. The Ottawa police’s sexual assault and child abuse section says Hernandez now faces a third charge after a third victim was identified.
The investigation looked into allegations against the accused between 2010 and 2016. The first complaint was laid in May, which led investigators to identify a second victim. Hernandez was charged with one count of sexual assault on July 19 and a second count on Aug. 16.
Police have not identified the music studio. Hernandez is to appear in court on Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, investigators say they are concerned there may be more potential victims.
“The Ottawa Police will respect a victim’s wishes to pursue or not pursue the matter before the courts,” said Staff Sgt. Angela McDade in statement. “The reporting of these incidents by victims to police is key for investigators to identify suspects and determine crime trends.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944 or phone Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.
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Please note the following:
September 2016: Healing Gardens Program: Reclaiming the Sacred
This was sent to me while I was on vacation – just got it posted today, but, happily for those who may be interested, there is still time 🙂
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This is a bt of a departure for me, but I beleive I should address it…
A concerned parent contacted me with news that an Australian cyclist who was charged and acquitted in Pennsylvania in 2008 is now living in St. Catharine’s Ontario and coaching a cycling team called NCCH. Here are two articles regarding the charge and acquittal. There are other articles online. Google “Rick Lee.”
The bottom line is the 51-year-old married coach had sex with an 15-year-old girl, a minor. True, she lied and told him she was 18. But, who would want this man around their teenage daughters?
I post this only because of the very real concern that parents in St. Catharine’s do not know this man’s background. Please pass on the word.
Here are two articles:
Cycling coach Rick Lee rape charges dropped
smh.com.au
November 7, 2008 – 2:10PM
Chris Thomson
Rick Lee, the WA junior cycling coach and former national youth coach charged with raping a girl in the US state of Pennsylvania, has had all charges against him dropped, according to a cycling associate.
“As we speak, he’s being released from jail now,” Amanda O’Connor said this morning.
“The family heard from Rick’s brother about 20 minutes ago and he’s currently on his way to collect Rick.”
Ms O’Connor is a keen cyclist who was formerly coached by Lee. She is the spokesperson for the Midland Cycle Club, of which he is a member.
Lee, 51, had faced a suite of rape charges in Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania, after turning himself into police there on July 16.
Ms O’Connor said Lee had been released at 10.20am Perth time, after a delay had frustrated his rumoured release at 6am.
“Unless there is a further delay, he should be a free man about now-ish,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The District Attorney has dropped all charges and there will be no conviction recorded against his name whatsoever.
Lee had been charged with rape, statutory rape, burglary, trespass, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and indecent exposure. The charges carried penalties of up to 20 years jail.
Ms O’Connor said Lee had initially agreed to plea to a lesser charge offered to him by District Attorney John Morganelli.
But she said a review of outstanding forensic evidence by Mr Morganelli’s office led the DA to drop all charges.
For the past four months, Lee had been languishing on remand in Northampton County Prison, after bail of $US125,000 was set.
“We’ve been kept a little bit in the dark with what has happened with his legal team,” Ms O’Connor said.
“But Rick’s family is rapt at the result and that he’ll soon be on his way home.”
At the time of his arrest, Lee was in Pennsylvania coaching a visiting 10-strong Australian junior cycling team, including two members from Western Australia.
The 15-year-old girl at the centre of the allegations claimed Lee wore a condom while raping her.
An affidavit, signed by investigation leader Detective Robert Hawke, said the girl told police Lee confronted her in her family house after she collected a newspaper from the front yard.
The girl had alleged Lee forced her upstairs, ripped her clothes off, pinned her down and raped her.
Lee coached the Australian Youth Olympic team in 2005 and was assistant manager of the Australian Youth Olympic team in 2003.
His wife Debbie and CyclingWA have been contacted for comment.
WAtoday.com.au with 6PR Morning Program
……
Australian cycling coach Rick Lee eager to move on after false rape charges
lehighvalley.com
on November 07, 2008 at 1:26 PM, updated November 07, 2008 at 4:10 PM
By JD Malone | The Express-Times
Cycling coach Rick Lee, center, surrounded by his attorneys, Steve Mills, left, and Chris Shipman, right, during a news conference this afternoon.
An Australian cycling coach who spent nearly four months in prison after being falsely accused of rape said today he’s eager to get on with his life.
“I do accept some responsibility for an error in my decision-making,” said Rick Lee, 51, during a news conference outside the Courtyard by Marriott in Bethlehem Township, Pa., a day after being released from jail.
Lee said the incident that led to his July 16 arrest and imprisonment has been enormously damaging to his marriage, his coaching career, his sponsors and personal friendships.
“I’m not sure what the future holds,” said Lee, of Forrestfield, Australia.
Lee was in the United States coaching an elite Australian junior cycling team on a nationwide tour when he arranged a rendezvous with a girl in Lehigh Township. They met through the adult dating Web site plentyoffish.com.
At the time, the cycling team was in Trexlertown, Lehigh County.
The girl was 15 and initially told authorities Lee entered her home and attacked her while she was home alone.
The girl on Oct. 31 recanted her story, telling prosecutors that she invited Lee into her home and had consensual sex with him. She told authorities she no longer wanted to pursue the case.
Lee said he remained hopeful all along despite spending time at Northampton County Prison.
“It was a bit overwhelming but I felt the truth would come out,” he said.
Of the rendezvous that led to the charges, Lee called his actions “immoral” and said “I’m not proud of that.”
The girl on Oct. 31 told prosecutors that she invited Lee into her home and had consensual sex with him. She told authorities she no longer wanted to pursue the case.
District Attorney John Morganelli said despite the girl’s age, he could not proceed with a statutory rape charge because the girl in e-mails obtained by police told Lee she was 18.
Lee had claimed all along he met the girl on the adult dating Web site and believed she was an 18-year-old nurse who attended Penn State University.
He planned to return to Australia within the next few days after collecting personal belongings and cycling equipment here. Besides a wife, he has a 16-year-old daughter.
Lee was noncommittal when asked if he planned any civil lawsuit against the teen for lying.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “At this stage, all I’m worrying about is going home.”
Enough for now,
Sylvia
I was a parishioner (and member of the choir) while Jose was at St. Pius. I have to say I was really surprised at this. I was a young person at the time, had many times where I would have been at the church early or late for choir practice or just for Mass, and I only ever experienced a person dedicated to his ministry and Music. I never saw or experienced anything that gave me even the slightest uneasy feeling.