DIOCESE OF LA CROSSE DEFENDS HANDLING OF UMBERGER
Thursday, August 5th, 2010 -- 10:08 AM
The Diocese of La Crosse yesterday issued a statement defending their handling of a priest who was arrested on child pornography charges.He was arrested last month, but many feel the Church should have followed up on information it received last year. That?s when Rev. Patrick Umberger reportedly followed several young boys into a Wisconsin Dells waterpark bathroom.
The Diocese acknowledges receiving the Lake Delton police report about seven weeks after the incidents. Noah's Ark Water Park was concerned enough that they put Umberger on a watch list and revoked his season pass.
But the Diocese says there were no allegations of ?any interaction or suspicious activity with children in or outside the restroom.?
Umberger was charged July 15 in La Crosse County Circuit Court with one count of possession of child pornography after state agents discovered three sexually graphic photos of nearly nude children on his computer.
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