News - State
Church clears priest of 1970s sex assault
Posted: Jan 2, 2011 3:31 PM by AP
DENVER (AP) - A Catholic priest in suburban Denver who was suspended last year following an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor has been cleared of wrongdoing by the church.
Father Mel Thompson of St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial was suspended in April of 2010 after the Archdiocese of Denver received a tip from an adult male that Thompson sexually assaulted him in the early 1970s.
The investigation was not criminal because the statute of limitations in the 1970s required victims to report an alleged act within three years.
KUSA-TV reports that the Archdiocese has completed its investigation and cleared Thompson of the allegation. The church says Thompson will retire, not return to active ministry.
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Information from: KUSA-TV, http://www.9news.com
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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