Catholic Priest Kills Himself After He’s Found Guilty of Rape

oge okonkwo

August 29, 2014 10:31 PM

The police does not suspect foul play and suggest that the priest took his own life

A 65-year-old catholic priest, Rene Labelle, was discovered dead in his apartment after he was convicted of sex crimes.

According to reports, Labelle who has been had been priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston for 36 years was free on bail waiting for an appeal when his lifeless body was found at his home.

The police does not suspect foul play and suggest that the priest took his own life.

In a prepared statement the priest’s Archdioceses said:

The late priest was convicted on three sex related charges, it was revealed that he sexually abused abused a teenage boy in his church residence on Wolfe Island back in the mid 2000′s.

The boy whose name is being withheld, testified that Labelle fondled him and made him touch himinappropriately.

Labelle was sentenced to 16 months in prison and 30 months’ probation. He wasn’t in custody long, his lawyer filed an appeal and the 65 year old was released from custody on bail.Labelle’s lawyer says he doesn’t know the official cause of death, declining to comment further.

As for Labelle’s appeal, his lawyer John Ecclestone explained through email that an application for abandonment will need to be filed with the Ontario Court of Appeal. What that does is essentially terminates the appeal.

oge okonkwo