Retired priest pleads not guilty in Colorado Springs child sex case

COLORADO SPRINGS — A retired priest pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he lured a 15-year-old Colorado Springs boy into a sexual relationship.

The Rev. Charles Robert Manning, 77, is accused of molesting the boy in 2007 while serving as pastor at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in 2007.

An arrest affidavit alleges the boy came to Manning for advice on becoming a Catholic and the priest began giving him private lessons, during which he gave the boy alcohol and marijuana. Colorado Springs Police also say Manning took the boy to get his nipples pierced, kissed the boy on the lips and engaged in other sexual acts, after which he thanked the boy.

Manning was suspended from the church in January and arrested in May.


Date of Publication: 10/19/2012
Source: R. Scott Rappold - Gazette.com and denverpost.com