An Ohio priest is facing charges after his diocese said he admitted to having a relationship with 17-year-old girl who is now pregnant.
Father Christopher Foxhoven, 45, was the pastor at Holy Cross and St. Mary of the Hill parishes in the Diocese of Steubenville near Pittsburgh, 10TV reports.
According to the Athens County prosecutor, the teen was an altar girl at Holy Cross in Glouster.
Both Foxhoven and the girl told her parents that she was pregnant.
Foxhoven is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the girl between August and October of this year, however the prosecutor said their relationship lasted three years.
The Diocese in Steubenville reported the allegations to the Athens County Sheriff's Office when they became aware of them on October 27.
Foxhoven was immediately suspended from taking any kind of religious service and was barred from coming into the church.
Foxhoven, 45, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, who is now pregnant with his child including having sex on church property including Holy Cross Church
The priest is now barred from church property, held on $1 million cash bond. Foxhoven is facing allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
A spokesman for the diocese said Canon Law prohibits anything but except a suspension by the diocese.
Shortly after the suspension, Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity.
Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found.
Foxhoven was charged with eight counts of sexual battery. The state requested a $1 million bond. He will appear for a review hearing on November 26.
Foxhoven was ordained in 2004 and previously worked in St. Clairsville and Wintersville. There are no other reported issues with the priest's behavior in the past.
Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity. Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found
Both Foxhoven and the girl told her parents that she was pregnant.
Foxhoven is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the girl between August and October of this year, however the prosecutor said their relationship lasted three years.
The Diocese in Steubenville reported the allegations to the Athens County Sheriff's Office when they became aware of them on October 27.
Foxhoven was immediately suspended from taking any kind of religious service and was barred from coming into the church.
Foxhoven, 45, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, who is now pregnant with his child including having sex on church property including Holy Cross Church
The priest is now barred from church property, held on $1 million cash bond. Foxhoven is facing allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
A spokesman for the diocese said Canon Law prohibits anything but except a suspension by the diocese.
Shortly after the suspension, Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity.
Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found.
Foxhoven was charged with eight counts of sexual battery. The state requested a $1 million bond. He will appear for a review hearing on November 26.
Foxhoven was ordained in 2004 and previously worked in St. Clairsville and Wintersville. There are no other reported issues with the priest's behavior in the past.
Foxhoven's home was searched whereupon police allegedly found evidence of criminal activity. Several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive results were found
It's alleged that some of the sexual activity occurred at the St. Mary Of The Hills Church, pictured
In a statement from Ohio's office of public assistance called the suspension 'the first step towards making things right.
'Bishop Monforton, the bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville, should aggressively reach out to parishioners especially those at parishes where Fr. Foxhaven spent time, and urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered abuse to come forward and make a report to authorities,' said SNAP's Executive Director, Zach Hiner.
'The Bishop should urge Ohio's attorney general to immediately open an independent investigation into not only his diocese, but all those throughout the state, and help expose the depth of clergy sex crimes and cover-ups in Ohio.
'By openly asking for an investigation and then allowing independent law enforcement officials to do their jobs, Bishop Monforton can show that he is as committed to both the truth and the prevention of future cases of abuse as he says he is,' continued Hiner.
In a statement from Ohio's office of public assistance called the suspension 'the first step towards making things right.
'Bishop Monforton, the bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville, should aggressively reach out to parishioners especially those at parishes where Fr. Foxhaven spent time, and urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered abuse to come forward and make a report to authorities,' said SNAP's Executive Director, Zach Hiner.
'The Bishop should urge Ohio's attorney general to immediately open an independent investigation into not only his diocese, but all those throughout the state, and help expose the depth of clergy sex crimes and cover-ups in Ohio.
'By openly asking for an investigation and then allowing independent law enforcement officials to do their jobs, Bishop Monforton can show that he is as committed to both the truth and the prevention of future cases of abuse as he says he is,' continued Hiner.
Anyone with additional information pertinent to this case, is urged to contact Detective Ryan Gillette with the Athens County Sheriff's Office at (740) 593-6633.
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