The case of Father Bernard Cloutier, 66, of North Bay, who is facing allegations of sexual impropriety, returned to Sudbury court Wednesday afternoon.
Cloutier has been charged with five counts of indecent assault on a male and five counts of gross indecency, involving three victims. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1979 and 1983 while Cloutier was a parish priest in Chelmsford, and later in Espanola.
He turned himself into police, in the company of legal counsel, two weeks ago after being contacted by an investigating officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service that charges had been laid against him.
These 10 new charges fall on the heels of charges laid in June 2007, including two counts each of sexual assault, indecent assault on a male, and gross indecency involving two victims. These incidents were alleged to have occurred in the same time frame while Cloutier was the parish priest at St. Mathieu Church on Pioneer Road, and L'Annonciation Church on Northway Avenue in Sudbury.
At the time the first charges were laid, Cloutier was relieved of his pastoral duties at Saints-Agnes Roman Catholic Church in North Bay.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is asking anyone with information in relation to the allegations to call the police at 675-9171.
Cloutier remains out of police custody and is scheduled to return to court Feb. 27.
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