Priest, ex-teacher face time in Philly abuse case
Bernard Shero (left) and Charles Engelhardt (right) will be sentenced June 12. (AP Photos, file)
A Roman Catholic priest and former teacher face long prison terms when they are sentenced in a priest-abuse case that brought down a Philadelphia church official.
The Rev. Charles Engelhardt of Wynnewood and Bernard Shero of Levittown are due in court Wednesday.
A troubled policeman’s son accused Engelhardt, Shero and now-defrocked priest Edward Avery of raping him as a child in the 1990s.
All three men deny the allegations, even though Avery took a plea offer and the others were convicted of most charges at trial.
The 49-year-old Shero is being sentenced on rape, indecent assault and other charges.
The 66-year-old Engelhardt faces sentencing on indecent assault, corruption of a minor and conspiracy charges.
The complaint led to the conviction of Monsignor William Lynn, who had transferred Avery to the parish despite concerns he was a pedophile.
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