Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Wednesday that no charges will be filed against a Wichita priest who was accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Bennett said the statute of limitations has expired in the case.
The priest was placed on administrative leave on November 1st after a report that was made to the Catholic Diocese of Wichita on an alleged victim. KFDI did not identify the priest because no formal charges were filed.
The allegations were alleged to have occurred when the priest was serving at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton between 1993 and 1996. The reported victim was between 12 and 15 years of age at that time, and the victim would now be around 40. The behavior alleged in the case did not involve any allegation of physical touching.
In a press release, Bennett said changes made in state law in 1994 said that a crime could not be charged after the victim turned 28 years of age. Bennett said this is a legal conclusion only and no commentary or conclusions are presented as to the merit of the allegations.
