| Priest Pleads "Not Guilty" to Sex Assault Charges
By Rob Polansky
WFSB
April 15, 2014
http://www.wfsb.com/story/25239584/priest-to-be-arraigned-on-sex-assault-charges
A priest in East Windsor who police connected to a teenager's school threat faced a judge Monday for sexual assault charges and pleaded not guilty.
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Father Paul Gotta was scheduled for a court appearance Monday. (East Windsor police photo)
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Father Paul Gotta, 55, was charged with several counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. Court documents said the assaults started in January 2012 and took place in South Windsor with a minor.
The documents said it happened over the course of a year.
Gotta was placed on leave after the allegations surfaced. Officials previously said Gotta would be on leave "until the matter is resolved through the legal system."
Investigators said Gotta was connected to 18-year-old Kyle Bass, who allegedly made threats against the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield.
Court documents released last summer said Bass referenced the Boston Marathon bombing and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in threats to the Bloomfield school.
Bass has denied the allegations.
Gotta told Bass to bring a gun with him when he walks his dog for protection and also helped the teen make a pipe bomb, investigators said.
Gotta appeared in court at 10 a.m. Monday in Enfield.
His case was continued until May 13.
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