A Catholic priest who served parishioners throughout Appalachia and the rural South and Southwest has been accused of molesting a 10-year-old boy.
The charges filed against The Rev. Robert F. Poandl include first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sexual assault, and sexual abuse by a custodian. He has since been released on bond and has been staying at the Glenmary Home Missioners' residences in Cincinnati. The president of Glenmary, The Rev. Dan Dorsey, said he asked Poandl to return to the residences upon hearing of the molestation accusations, but confirmed that Poandl has not been acting as a priest in any capacity.
Poandl was arrested after the victim, who is now 28 and living in Cincinnati, confessed to police last year that he was molested by Poandl at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church rectory in Spencer, West Virginia.
Poandl has not made any public statements, but Dorsey said it's his hope and prayer that "God's love and guidance will help all those affected by this accusation."
If you have been abused by a Catholic priest, you are not alone. Unfortunately, thousands of teenagers and children are molested or sexually abused by their priest every year. At the Zalkin Law Firm, we understand how traumatic this experience can be, and want to help. If you or your child has been sexually abused by a member of the Catholic Church, you can trust a clergy abuse lawyer at our firm to aggressively advocate your rights to compensation for your pain and suffering and mental anguish. To learn more, please contact the Zalkin Law Firm by calling (800) 724-3235!
