Ronald H. Paquin, a former associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Haverhill, has been arrested in connection with charges he abused two children in Maine during the late 1980s.
Kennebunkport Police Chief Craig A. Sanford confirmed the arrest Thursday morning, but could not offer any details.
Paquin, 74, was indicted this week by a York County, Maine, grand jury on 29 counts of gross sexual misconduct, allegedly involving two children, ages 11 and 14, at seasonal locations in Kennebunkport, Maine. A warrant was issued for his arrest after the indictment.
It is not yet clear where Paquin was arrested or when he will be taken to Maine for arraignment on 13 counts of gross sexual misconduct, class A, and 16 counts of gross sexual misconduct.
Paquin pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a child in December, 2002, and was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in state prison. The rapes took place in Haverhill between 1989 and 1992, beginning when the victim was 12 years old. He was released from prison in 2015 after Paquin was evaluated by two examiners who did not find Paquin to be sexually dangerous.
Paquin, who was represented then by Attorney David Erickson, was the first priest to admit guilt in a molestation case during the Boston Archdiocese’ sex abuse scandal. Paquin began his career at St. Monica’s Church, Methuen, in 1973.
This is a developing story.
Should have kept the guy in jail!
Oh