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Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry has passed away after a brief battle with cancer.

Suspended priest charged with felony child seduction

Screenshot from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend

A suspended Roman Catholic priest now faces criminal charges in Whitley County stemming from incidents at his church residence.

 

According to court documents filed Friday in Whitley County Superior Court, Rev. David S. Huneck is accused of giving two teenage women alcohol and groping them on two separate occasions.

 

The charges include felony charges of child seduction and sexual battery, and a number of misdemeanor charges including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and battery.

 

In late September, Bishop Kevin Rhodes suspended Huneck from his position as parish priest at St. Paul of the Cross parish in Columbia City and as chaplain at Bishop Dwenger High School after the allegations surfaced.

 

Huneck, age 31, is accused of using his position as chaplain to involve himself with the first victim, age 17. The teens told police he invited both teenagers to his church residence for his birthday in June, gave them alcohol, became intoxicated himself and then groped and fondled them, according to court documents.

 

The second young woman is 19, according to court documents.

 

Huneck invited them back over to his apartment in September to apologize. He again offered them alcohol, and became intoxicated and then again groped the older teen.

 

Huneck sent a text to the older teen on Sept. 18, apologizing for his behavior.

 

If convicted of the charges, Huneck could serve up to a year in prison.

 

 

Huneck Charges Redacted by Rebecca Green on Scribd

Rebecca manages the news at WBOI. She joined the staff in December 2017, and brought with her nearly two decades of experience in print journalism, including 15 years as an award-winning reporter for the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne.
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