An accusation of sexual crimes in the District of Columbia is a serious matter and can result in significant consequences for a suspect. Such are the circumstances of a recent case in Washington DC where a Catholic priest was removed from his position after allegations of sexual misconduct with young girls surfaced.

Father Michael Schapfel served as a Catholic chaplain of a girls' movement abroad during the 1980s and 1990s. Once through with the movement, he moved back to the United States and worked as a priest at a Catholic church in Washington, DC. However, multiple sex crime allegations against Father Schapfel arose in the past month, prompting civil authorities from abroad to call Father Schapfel back for trial. Foreign officials stated that when they released Father Schapfel to the United States in 2004, they were unaware that the girl was a minor.

These sexual allegations against Father Schapfel come as a surprise to many. According to a letter from the Diocese of Mainz, the priest had no known criminal background, nor any prior behavior that would make him appear to be unfit to be around children. On the contrary, Father Schapfel attended a child protection training program and signed a contract agreeing to uphold its policies. Investigations are ongoing in both the United States and abroad.

Facing accusations of engaging in a sex crime in DC or internationally is a traumatic experience for one to go through. Enlisting the services of a hard-working and experienced legal defense to protect your personal liberties and freedoms can help mitigate the impact of these or similar charges. Contacting a practiced DC criminal defense lawyer immediately will ensure the highest quality legal advice and defense against accusations of this magnitude.

This article is presented by Price Benowitz, LLP, representing clients in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, please visit our Maryland Sex Crime Attorneys and Virginia Sex Offense Lawyers websites.