Priest Accused of Child Sex Abuse Behind Bars Pending Trial

After announcing his support of legislation to change the statute of limitations on child sex abuse crimes, State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, facing camera, hugs Rep. Mark Rozzi, himself an abuse victim, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sept. 24, 2018. Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO—A former New Mexico priest who fled the U.S. decades ago amid allegations of child sex abuse will await trial behind bars, a federal judge decided on Sept. 25, as his accusers in the audience applauded.

Defense attorney Samuel Winder argued in court that Arthur Perrault was not a flight risk as he had no passport, no family and no means of leaving the country. But prosecutors described him as a danger to the community who fled before.