Archdiocese places high school athletic director on leave following his arrest

    Update: Action News reports Murphy was arrested in connection with sexually soliciting an 11th-grade student who left the school for financial reasons.

    Reports say when the students asked Murphy for help in getting football equipment from his old locker, Murphy turned the conversation to sex, and was arrested Friday at an ice cream shop where he thought he was meeting the student.

    Original report: Following new of his arrest, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has placed Archbishop Carroll High School Athletic Director Francis Murphy on administrative leave.

    Murphy is charges with unlawful contact with minors and corruption of minors.

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    Murphy has been at the Montgomery County school since 1999, where he also served as a baseball coach and offensive coordinator for the football team. Prior to that, he coached baseball and football at Kennedy-Kenrick High School from 1996 to 1998.

    A release from the diocese says Murphy’s background and child abuse clearances were “in place.” The diocese is encouraging anyone who needs assistance to contact the Victim Assistance Office at 1-888-800-8780 or philavac AT adphila.org.

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