4 new sex-abuse allegations against former top church official found 'credible' by Diocese of Charlotte

Nov. 27--The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., has found four new sexual abuse allegations against a former vicar released by Charlotte Diocese Bishop Peter Jugis read.

"We regret to announce that additional allegations against Monsignor Mauricio West of sexual misconduct involving adults have been found credible in four alleged incidents in the 1980s and early 1990s, and that he continues on administrative leave," a statement released by the diocese's communications office Tuesday read.

West stepped down from his position as the diocese second-in-command in March, after a similar sexual misconduct accusation emerged.

The first allegation, which dates back to the mid '80s, involved an adult student at Belmont Abbey College, while West was the school's vice president for student affairs.

It involved "multiple instances of unwanted overtures toward an adult student over a two-year period," a statement released by the Charlotte Diocese's Bishop Peter Jugis read.

After the Lay Review Board of the Diocese found the accusation to be a "credible allegation of sexual misconduct," West was placed on administrative leave.

According to Tuesday's statement, two of the new allegations also involved Belmont Abbey College students in the '80s

Another one involved an alleged 1991 incident with an employee at the House of Mercy in Belmont, a small city located 15 miles west of Charlotte.

The fourth allegation took place in 1993 with an employee at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte. West had been appointed by the diocese to serve as parochial vicar at the parish.

"All of the alleged incidents occurred while Msgr. West was a monk serving under the authority of Belmont Abbey but were not reported to the college or monastery at the time," the statement read. "Each incident was described by victims as unwanted kissing and, in one case, touching on the thigh as well."

West denies all the allegations.

A final determination of what will happen to West will be made at a later day. Until then, he'll remain on administrative leave, which means he will not be "given a ministerial assignment."

"The finding of a credible allegation is not a finding of guilt but is an allegation of improper behavior that both the diocese and the college take seriously," the statement reads.

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