Ex-St. Alban Roe Priest Arrested on Sex Abuse Allegations

By Julie Brown Patton
The Patch
May 23, 2012

http://eureka-wildwood.patch.com/articles/ex-st-alban-roe-priest-arrested-on-sex-abuse-allegations


Father Charles "Robert" Manning, a former priest of St. Alban Roe Catholic Church in Wildwood, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault on a child.

A former priest of the St. Alban Roe Catholic Church in Wildwood was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault of a 15-year-old Colorado Springs, CO, male, according to a Tuesday article published in the Colorado Springs Gazette. Father Charles "Robert" Manning served at St. Alban Roe from 1997 to 2001, prior to moving to Colorado Springs.

KSDK-TV St. Louis broadcasters reported on Tuesday's 10 p.m. newscast that Manning turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued. Authorities indicated the incident happened Oct. 17, 2011. On Jan. 4, 2012, St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Colorado asked him to step down after they were notified of the investigation, according to KSDK reports.

Manning, 77 years old, was booked into the El Paso County jail; he posted a bond of $10,000 Tuesday night.

Gazette reporter Ryan Maye Handy wrote in the Tuesday article a news release from the Diocese of Colorado Springs read: "A process has now begun. As it goes forward, there should be compassion and care for the alleged victim. There should be a presumption of innocence for the priest."

Handy indicated in the article that details of Manning's arrest affidavit were sealed and not available to the public.