Thu, July 15, 2004

A FORMER NUN was convicted in Virginia Beach, Va., yesterday of molesting a 10-year-old Grade 5 pupil at a Roman Catholic school 35 years ago. Eileen Rhoads, 65, entered a plea of taking indecent liberties with a child and enticement of a child.

Under the plea, a defendant acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction without admitting wrongdoing.

Rhoads faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced Sept. 22.

The crimes took place during the 1969-1970 school year at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School. Court documents show Rhoads took part in illicit behaviour with at least three male students and a female student, or encouraged the children to engage in illicit behaviour with each other. She fondled and kissed some of the children and encouraged the children to touch her, records show.

Rhoads faces similar accusations in Pennsylvania, where she was a teacher after leaving Virginia.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/07/15/543398.html