Retired Rhode Island priest charged with molesting girl

Smithfield Police headquarters. Photo courtesy Town of Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Police in Rhode Island arrested a retired priest and charged him with second degree child molestation.

The Smithfield police department said a woman reported that the former pastor of the Ocean State Baptist Church molested her when she was a child.

Officers arrested 75-year-old Archie Emerson on Friday and seized a computer at his home.

An attorney for Emerson says he denies the charges and is shocked by the allegations.

A judge set bail for Emerson and released him with an order not to contact the plaintiff.

His next court appearance is scheduled for October.

 

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