Former Asheville Music Minister Sentenced for Sex Crimes
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:58 am
ASHEVILLE — A former music minister at St. Eugene Catholic Church was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison by a U.S. District Court judge.
Asheville police arrested Berrell in 2009 after the parent of a minor female notified authorities of inappropriate behavior. Authorities seized a camera, computer and about 11 CDs of child erotica.
The court found Berrell “engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against minor children dating back to 2002 while employed as a music teacher.”
During the investigation, law enforcement determined that the Rev. John Schneider, then pastor at St. Eugene, had deleted hundreds of child pornographic images from Berrell's computer, in an attempt to cover up criminal activity, according to court documents.
A minor girl and her parents filed a lawsuit against Berrell, Schneider and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte in July. The suit claims church officials knew about a pattern of improper sexual activity by Berrell.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20 ... |Frontpage
Asheville police arrested Berrell in 2009 after the parent of a minor female notified authorities of inappropriate behavior. Authorities seized a camera, computer and about 11 CDs of child erotica.
The court found Berrell “engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against minor children dating back to 2002 while employed as a music teacher.”
During the investigation, law enforcement determined that the Rev. John Schneider, then pastor at St. Eugene, had deleted hundreds of child pornographic images from Berrell's computer, in an attempt to cover up criminal activity, according to court documents.
A minor girl and her parents filed a lawsuit against Berrell, Schneider and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte in July. The suit claims church officials knew about a pattern of improper sexual activity by Berrell.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20 ... |Frontpage
