A priest and former president of a prestigious Catholic high school on Long Island has been suspended from his religious order after it determined that allegations of his sexual abuse of a minor were credible.
The Marianists, also known as the Society of Mary, made the announcement about the Rev. James Williams late Friday afternoon on the website of Chaminade High School.
The Marianists statement said a "comprehensive investigation" was conducted by the order.
Williams has denied the allegations. He resigned in 2011 as president of the all-boys institution.
The Marianists said they had contacted the Nassau County district attorney and the Diocese of Rockville Centre about the allegations. They did not elaborate.
The victim, a former student, met with prosecutors in February, 2015, when the diocese attorney contacted the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, said Brendan Bosh, a spokesman for the office.
The victim described conduct that constituted misdemeanor sexual abuse by Williams in 2011, he said. However, the two-year statute of limitations on the misdemeanor had expired in 2013, two years before the diocese reported the alleged abuse, he said.
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At that time, Williams was believed to be living in Rome, Italy, Bosh added.
The victim requested anonymity and didn't want to pursue the matter, he said.
The D.A.'s office received another letter, dated May 3, 2016, from a law firm representing Chaminade High School which repeated the allegations in the diocese letter. Again, the victim said he didn't want to pursue charges, Bosh said.
Prosecutors ask that anyone with information regarding allegations of sex abuse by Williams contact their Special Victims Bureau.
Williams could not be reached Saturday, The Associated Press reported. There was no immediate information on a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
