( Cincinnati ) - A Tri-State priest has been indicted on nine counts of rape for having sex with a child when he was music minister at the parish back in the late 1980s.
Father Geoff Drew has been arrested and is in custody on the charges that carry a potential sentence of life in prison. The alleged victim was a ten-year-old altar boy who served mass at Saint Jude Parish in Bridgetown.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters says the alleged victim in the case came forward now because of all the recent publicity about the priest who was removed from his parish in Monfort Heights last month for having inappropriate contact with children.
The charges stem from allegations of wrongdoing while Drew was an employee of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, before he became a priest.
The local Catholic Church has released the following statement on Father Drew's arrest:
Today, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati learned that a Hamilton County Grand Jury returned a nine-count indictment against Fr. Geoff Drew stemming from alleged crimes during his time at St. Jude Parish, where he served as music director 1984-1999. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati was made aware of these allegations after Archbishop Schnurr removed Fr. Drew as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish on July 23. We have fully cooperated with this investigation and will continue to do so.
The protection of young people is of paramount importance and can never be compromised. We urge anyone who has any information regarding the accusations against Fr. Geoff Drew to please report it to Cincinnati Police Detective Dana Jones in the Personal Crimes Unit at 513-352-6947 or dana.jones@cincinnati-oh.gov.
Let us continue to pray for the healing of all victims of the horrific sin of sexual abuse.