A former Gilman School pastor has been indicted by the State of Maryland on charges that he sexually abused a minor.

Laurence LaPointe, a pastor for the Corpus Christi Parish in Willimantic, Connecticut, has been charged with committing a third-degree sex offense with someone under 14 years old and causing abuse to a minor under the age of 18.

The offense dates range from 1975 to 1977, according to court documentation.

The Diocese of Norwich, which is over the Corpus Christi Parish, has placed LaPointe on leave, as of March 6, due to an investigation by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, according to a news release from the diocese.

The investigation found that LaPointe may have abused another minor in Connecticut in the early 1970s. The Diocese of Norwich said LaPointe’s indictment of Maryland was unknown to the diocese until March 11.

According to The Diocese of Norwich, LaPointe has denied all allegations.

Bishop Richard F. Reidy, with The Diocese of Norwich, said the seriousness of the allegations against LaPointe warranted him being put on leave.

“The clergy abuse crisis has caused profound harm to victims, their families, and the Church,” said Bishop Richard F. Reidy. “The Diocese of Norwich maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any cleric, employee, or volunteer found to have abused a minor.”

LaPointe is is scheduled to appear in Baltimore Circuit Court on March 26. No attorney was listed in the documents.

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Laurence LaPointe, a former Gilman School pastor, has been indicted by the State of Maryland on charges of sexually abusing a minor dating back to 1975-1977.
• The Diocese of Norwich has placed LaPointe on leave due to an investigation by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, which found potential abuse of another minor in the early 1970s.
• LaPointe has denied all allegations, and is scheduled to appear in Baltimore Circuit Court on March 26 with no listed attorney.

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