Ex-coach accused of abuse

Local News

Discussion

January 17, 2013

Ex-coach accused of abuse

Friar named by Ohio men had ties to Bishop McCort

Sandra K Reabuck sreabuck@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:59 PM EST

JOHNSTOWN — A Franciscan friar who had ties to Bishop McCort Catholic High School decades ago has been accused of sexually abusing boys while he was a baseball coach and religious teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, in the in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Brother Stephen Baker, now living in the Hollidaysburg area, was identified as the abuser by two men who spoke about the abuse at a news conference this week in Ohio. They and nine other men settled claims against the school, the Diocese of Youngstown and the Third Order Regular of the Franciscan Friars in October.

According to published reports, the two men said that the sex abuse took place mostly when they played baseball for the high school, where Baker was the coach and trainer.

Baker, now living at St. Bernardine’s Monastery, also was a religion teacher and a trainer on the baseball and football staffs at Johnstown’s Bishop McCort Catholic High School in the late 1990s and in the 2000s.

The Rev. Patrick Quinn, the minister provincial for the Third Order Regular, said in a statement that Baker has been removed from all public ministry and is living under supervision in which he has no contact with minors.

“The Province encourages anyone who has been harmed by Brother Stephen Baker or any of its members to contact the Minister Provincial,” Quinn said.

Tony DeGol, spokesman for the Altoona- Johnstown Catholic Diocese, said that Baker is not a diocesan priest and his case is not being handled by the diocese.

A statement from the diocese said that Bishop Mark Bartchak became aware of the accusations against Baker in November 2011 and that Bartchak immediately reported it to “the appropriate civil authorities.”

“The abuse of minors at any time and place is wrong and can never be excused,” Bartchak said in the press release.

Although there apparently are no reports of abuse here in Pennsylvania, SNAP – the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests – has issued a statement encouraging any other victims to come forward and report the abuse.

“We hope that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered Baker’s crimes – in Ohio or Pennsylvania – will come forward, get help, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing,” Barbara Dorris, SNAP outreach director, said in a statement.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Easter Seals’ branches join, add services
A June 4 merger of two independent Pennsylvania Easter Seals nonprofit organizations has led to an increased service area and expanded programs, Johnstown Division Director Annette Shearman said.

June 17, 2013
Inmate’s hearing delayed
The first court appearance by a death-row inmate who police and many witnesses say slammed a Cambria County attorney in the face more than a month ago is again delayed.

June 17, 2013
Bedford trial set to open
A man charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a western Bedford County man he called his best friend will attempt to convince a jury that he should not be held responsible for his death.

June 17, 2013
Richland bash sheds Thunder ties
Although no longer officially part of Thunder in the Valley, Richland Bike Bash provides another motorcycle-themed venue for music, food and fun while supporting the Richland Township Fire Department.

June 17, 2013
Pool ’n Pork festival adds new activities
Each year, the Nanty Glo Pool and Park along Lincoln Avenue tries to draw a portion of the leather-clad throngs speeding to Johns-town’s annual Thunder in the Valley event.

June 17, 2013 1 Photo
Funeral plans set for Jackson Twp. firefighter
Funeral arrangements have been set for a Jackson Township firefighter killed in a tractor accident over the weekend.

June 17, 2013
Police roundup: 2nd man sought in diamond heist
Richland Township police are looking for a second suspect in connection with a jewelry store robbery at The Galleria on Saturday.

June 17, 2013
In brief: West Taylor bridge project underway
Work to replace two structures that cross Wildcat Run and a tributary to Laurel Run on Cooper Avenue, Route 3041, in West Taylor Township began Monday.

June 17, 2013
$10,000 in copper wire stolen from turbines
State police say $10,000 worth of copper wire has been stolen from two disassembled wind turbines being stored on property in southwestern Pennsylvania.

June 17, 2013
Man jailed in jewelry store robbery
The man who police said robbed a Richland Township jewelry store on Saturday was jailed the same day, authorities said.
Shane Bradley Neisner, 26, of the 1200 block of Killiwhat Street, entered Littman Jewelers at The Galleria shortly before 2:30 p.m. and asked to see a diamond ring, township police said.
Neisner allegedly snatched the $5,000 ring from the hand of the salesperson and ran out of the store. He returned to the mall a short time later and sold the ring to TK Jewelers Bench for $300, police said.
He was arraigned by on-call District Judge Max Pavlovich of Richland on charges of robbery, retail theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.
Neisner was sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $20,000.

June 17, 2013
More Local News Headlines

Do you think Edward Snowden, the American who claims to have given documents about classified phone records to journalists, should be:

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Ex-coach accused of abuse

Friar named by Ohio men had ties to Bishop McCort

Do you think Edward Snowden, the American who claims to have given documents about classified phone records to journalists, should be:

Contact Us