Father Peter Enyan-Boadu was found not guilty July 20 of attempted forcible touching and three counts of harassment and soon will return to his Brockport pastorate, according to the diocese and the priest’s attorney.
The charges against Father Enyan-Boadu had stemmed from a complaint filed with Brockport police by an adult female in November 2006.
The July 19 bench trial before Sweden Town Court Judge Carl A. Coapman lasted more than 10 hours, according to the priest’s attorney, Charles A. Schiano Jr. He said the judge previously had dismissed one charge of forcible touching.
Schiano said he presented evidence that Father Enyan-Boadu was ministering to a family outside of the area at the time in which the attempted forcible touching was alleged to have occurred.
“The courtroom was packed with supporters for Father,” said Schiano, who maintained the priest’s innocence throughout the trial.
The district attorney in the case could not be reached for comment at press time July 20.
Father Enyan-Boadu, 53, a native Ghana, Africa, was incardinated a priest of the Rochester Diocese in 1998. According to a diocesan statement, he will return to his pastorate at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Brockport in the next few weeks. The priest had requested a leave of absence over the past several months while court proceedings were resolved, the diocese said.
