Priest pleads not guilty in sex abuse case

SPENCER, W.Va. � A Catholic priest from a Fairfield religious society, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges he sexually abused a 10-year-old boy in West Virginia in 1991.

Roane County Circuit Judge David W. Nibert scheduled Robert F. Poandl�s trial for June 15.

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The 68-year-old priest was indicted last month after a 28-year-old Cincinnati man told police that Poandl molested him during a visit to the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in August 1991. State Police said Poandl came to Spencer with the boy to cover a Mass for the priest assigned to Holy Redeemer.

Poandl and his attorneys, Anita Ashley and Dennis Curry, declined comment after the hearing.

Poandl is charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a custodian.

He is associated with the Glenmary Home Missioners in Fairfield. Glenmary has said Poandl was removed from his ministry assignment last year after it learned of the allegations but remains a resident at the headquarters.

�This is a very difficult, painful time for everyone associated with this case,� said the Rev. Dan Dorsey, Glenmary�s president.

Since Poandl became a priest in 1968, has served in various leadership roles at Glenmary and as pastor at churches in Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and Mississippi.

Members of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests have criticized the church for not disclosing the allegations when they first learned of them last summer.

�Such secrecy is immoral and reckless, and may have led to other kids being abused, too,� Judy Jones, the group�s Midwest director, said in a prepared statement.

Poandl is free on a $15,000 bond.

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