Please note: An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. The U.S. Constitution guarantees that a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Barry Meehan, age 65 767 Providence Street West Warwick, RI P1-2014-3413A
The Statewide Grand Jury reported out a secret indictment charging Barry Meehan with five counts of first degree sexual assault. Meehan is an ordained Catholic priest.
It is alleged that on or about dates between April 17, 1986 and January 25, 1991, Meehan, while assigned to St. Mary Parish in Cranston, sexually assaulted a male over 14 years of age. It is further alleged that on or about dates between January 25, 1991 and August 31, 1992, Meehan, while assigned to St. Augustine in Providence, sexually assaulted another male over 14 years of age.
One of the alleged victims reported the abuse to the Diocese of Providence in December 2012, who in turn reported it to the Rhode Island State Police. Through the course of the investigation, the Rhode Island State Police identified a second victim.
Meehan was arraigned this morning in Providence County Superior Court before Superior Court Magistrate Patricia Harwood. Bail was set at $50,000 with surety. Meehan was ordered to surrender his passport by noon on Monday, November 24, 2014 and is not allowed to leave the State of Rhode Island. In addition, he was ordered to have no contact with the victim. The next court date is December 11, 2014 for a pre trial conference.