D.A. says priest wrongly accused of sex abuse

READING » Berks County Detectives have determined that sexual abuse allegations against a Berks County priest appear to have been false.

The Berks County District Attorney’s Child Abuse Detectives received a ChildLine report on Aug. 24 of an alleged sexual child abuse incident to a preteen female victim, according to a press release from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

Subsequently, detectives immediately initiated an investigation into the allegation. The allegation was reported by the biological father of the victim. Police said the father did not have any basis to name Rev. David C. Gillis, but mentioned him because he was a priest at St. John the Baptist de La Salle School in Shillington, Berks County.

During the investigation, the detectives learned that the alleged victim would have been approximately 8 years of age or older around the time of the alleged incident while attending St. John’s. Also, it was alleged that a Catholic priest, the Rev. Gillis, was the suspect of the abuse, police said.

Gillis was assigned to the parish from June of 1996 to June 2005. In 2005, Rev. Gillis transferred from the Allentown Catholic Diocese to the Diocese of Orlando, Fla., at his request for personal reasons.

As a result of the investigation, Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown, reported the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, involving Rev. Gillis to Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and the Diocese of Orlando as Rev. Gillis ministered at the Diocese of Orlando, police said.

Rev. Gillis was removed from his duties by both Bishop Schlert of Allentown and Orlando Bishop John Noonan pending the outcome of the investigation.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined the allegation of child sexual abuse against Rev. Gillis was false, the D.A. said. The alleged victim disclosed to detectives, in an interview, that she was not sexually abused by Rev. Gillis, according to authorities.

Additionally, detectives interviewed other individuals of interest and found no evidence to substantiate the allegation against Gillis.

“It is unfortunate that the accusation of child sexual abuse against Rev. Gillis was made public by the Diocese of Orlando before the outcome of this investigation could be determined. These types of investigations are very sensitive in nature. Many times when the accused is publicly mentioned prematurely, without any factual basis, it can compromise an investigation,” Adams said.

“With regard to Reverend Gillis or any individual subject to an accusation, we must be cognizant that the accused has the right to due process,” said Adams.

The Berks County District Attorney’s office will continue to pursue any information or leads concerning child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Allentown.

If you are a victim or you suspect sexual child abuse in Berks County, contact the District Attorney’s Office at 610-478-7171 or ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.

“It is unfortunate that the accusation of child sexual abuse against Rev. Gillis was made public by the Diocese of Orlando before the outcome of this investigation could be determined. These types of investigations are very sensitive in nature. Many times when the accused is publicly mentioned prematurely, without any factual basis, it can compromise an investigation. — Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams