Johnson County moves ahead with investigation of allegations against priest

Johnson County Attorney Patrick White says his preliminary look at claims that a Catholic priest abused a boy in 1998 made him decide to open a full-fledged investigation into the charges. Iowa City police have assigned a sergeant to the investigation, at the county attorney’s request. Earlier, after the alleged victim told another priest, the parish sent church officials to talk with congregations at three churches where the accused priest had served. The prosecutor’s asking anyone who thinks they may have information valuable to this investigation to contact the Johnson County Attorney’s office or Sergeant Kevin Heick at the Iowa City Police department.