RETURN TO WELCOME PAGE

RETURN TO PHOTO PAGE

Timeline from BishopAccountability.org:
Rev. Robert F. "Bob" Poandl, g.h.m.

Summary of Case: A priest of the Glenmary Home Missioners, which serves in rural areas of the U.S., Poandle was accused in 2009 of having sexually abused a 10 year-old OH boy on a trip to West Virginia in 1991. After a police investigation he was charged in Jan. 2010 with sexual abuse. The charges were dropped in August and Poandl was returned to ministry in Georgia in Sept. 2010. In Feb. 2012 a second person reported having been sexually abused by Poandl nearly 30 years previously. Poandl was again removed from public ministry, and returned to Glenmary headquarters in Fairfield, OH. Poandl maintained he was not guilty. In Nov. 2012 Poandl was indicted on federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines for illicit purposes, related to the 2009 accusation that he sexually abused an OH boy in WV in 1991. Poandl pleaded not guilty. He was placed on house arrest with GPS monitoring pending trial.   Ordained: 1968

Cincinnati, OH, US Departement of Justice, "Jury convicts priest of illegal interstate transportation of a minor", September 20, 2013.

Poandl_Robert_1980s_pic  Poandl_Robert_photo  Poandl_Robert_mugshot

Cincinnati, OH, US Department of Justice, "Priest Sentenced To 90 Months In Prison For Illegal Interstate Transportation Of A Minor", February 12, 2014.

Victim Impact Statement to US District Court, Southern District of Ohio

RETURN TO TOP
Start Stop Parish/Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1968
Natchez-Jackson bishop was Joseph Bernard Brunini (1967-1984)

1973 St. Francis Aberdeen MS 3/3, 2/2,1/2,1/1
1968 1973 St. Helen's Armory MS This was a mission of St. Francis in Aberdeen.
1968 1973 Immaculate Heart of Mary Houston MS This was a mission of St. Francis in Aberdeen.
1968 1973 St. Theresa's Okolona MS This was a mission of St. Francis in Aberdeen.
1968 1973 Christ the King Fulton MS This was a mission of St. Francis in Aberdeen.
1973 1974 Mifflintown/Doylesburg PA Poandl is indexed in the 1974 Directory as at St. Francis in Aberdeen, but he is not listed as there in the Natchez-Jackson diocesan pages. This placement is per the Glenmary website. The time frame for Poandl's placement in Mifflintown/Doylesburg is not indicated, but it may have been between his stints in Aberdeen and New Orleans.

1974
New Orleans archbishop was Philip Matthew Hannan (1965-1988)

1975 Glenmary House of Studies New Orleans LA Director This was an undergraduate house of studies at Loyola University for Glenmary priesthood and brotherhood candidates.

1975
Cincinnati archbishop was Joseph Louis Bernardin (1972-1982)

1979 Motherhouse of Glenmary Home Missions Fairfield OH House Director; Second Vice-President

1979
Atlanta archbishop was

1981 St. Luke's Dahlonega GA 1/1
1979 1981 St. Paul the Apostle Cleveland GA This was a mission of St. Luke's in Dahlonega.
1979 1981 St. Francis of Assisi Blairsville GA This was a mission of St. Luke's in Dahlonega.
1979 1981 U.S. Ranger Camp Dahlonega GA This was a station of St. Luke's in Dahlonega.
1981 1988 St. Francis of Assisi

Blairsville

Poandl was accused in Feb. 2012 of having sexually abused an anonymous person "nearly 30 years ago".

GA 1/1
1981 1988 St. Paul the Apostle

Cleveland GA This was a mission of St. Francis of Assisi in Blairsville.
Franklin KY Administrator

1988
Cincinnati archbishop was Daniel Edward Pilarczyk (1982-2009)

1994 Headquarters of Glenmary Home Missioners

Fairfield

A 28 year-old Cincinnati man reported to the Glenmary order in June 2009 that Poandl sexually abused him in 1991 when the man was 10 years-old. The man said the abuse occurred during a trip to Spencer, West Virginia, at the Holy Redeemer parish rectory.

OH Acting Vocation Director 1988-1990; Vocation Director 1990-1994 Police said Poandl traveled to W.VA one weekend in Aug. 1991 to fill-in for a Holy Redeemer priest, and that he brought the boy with him.

1994
Tyler bishop was Edmond Carmody (1992-2000)

1999 Holy Cross Pittsburg TX 1/1 Holy Cross had a religious education program with 58-140 students.

1999
Tulsa bishop was Edward James Slattery (1993-)

2003 Immaculate Conception Hugo OK 1/1 Immaculate Conception had a religious education program with 41-29 students.
1999 2003 St. Jude Boswell OK This was a mission of Immaculate Conception in Hugo.
2003 2007 Headquarters of Glenmary Home Missioners Fairfield OH 1st Vice-President; Director of Education

2007
Savannah bishop was John Kevin Boland (1995-2011)

June 2009 St. Christopher's Claxton GA 1/1
2007 June 2009 St. Jude Glenville GA This was a mission of St. Christopher's in Claxton.
2007 June 2009 Holy Cross Pembroke GA This was a mission of St. Christopher's in Claxton.
2007 June 2009 Our Lady of Guadalupe Sandhill GA This was a mission of St. Christopher's in Claxton.

June 2009
Cincinnati archbishop was Dennis Marion Schnurr (2009-)

Sept. 2010 Administrative Leave/Headquarters of Glenmary Home Missioners Fairfield OH

Poandl was charged in Jan. 2010 by West Virginia State Police with first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sexual assault and sexual abuse by a custodian, after investigating a June 2009 report that a 10 year-old boy had been abused by Poandl at a W.VA parish in 1991.

Glenmary president, Rev. Dan Dorsey, stated that after learning of the allegations in June 2009 he removed Poandl from public ministry in Georgia and had him return to Glenmary headquarters in Cincinnati.

Poandl pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case was dismissed in Aug. 2010 by a judge who said that not all of the accuser's medical records had been turned over to the court, as he had ordered.

Sept. 2010
Boland was succeeded as Savannah bishop by Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. (2011-)

Feb. 2012 St. Christopher's Claxton GA Poandl returned to public ministry in Georgia Sept. 25, 2010.
Sept. 2010 Feb. 2012 Holy Cross Pembroke GA This was a mission of St. Christopher's in Claxton.
Sept. 2010 Feb. 2012 Our Lady of Guadalupe Sandhill GA This was a mission of St. Christopher's in Claxton.
Feb. 2012 Feb 2014 Administrative Leave/Headquarters of Glenmary Home Missioners Fairfield OH Poandl was removed from plublic ministry a second time in Feb. 2012, after an allegation of sexual abuse that is said to have occurred "nearly 30 years ago" surfaced. Poandl denied the accusations.
Poandl was indictedby a federal grand jury in Nov. 2012 on charges that in 1991 he transported a 10 year-old boy across state lines for illicit purposes. This is the same case for which charges were previously dropped on a technicality. Poandl pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He was placed on house arrest, with GPS monitoring.
In Dec. 2012 Poandl requested and was granted permission to travel to New York for medical treatment. His trial, which was to begin in January 2013, was postponed until March 18, 2013.
Poandl was convictedin Sept. 2013 of interstate transportation of a minor for illicit purposes. He was sentenced Feb. 12, 2014 to 7.5 years in prison.

RETURN TO TOP

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1969-2011)

Area Priest Indicted on W.va. Sex Crime Charges, WLWT, February 2, 2010
Priest in Local Order Faces Abuse Charges, Victim Says Robert F. Poandl Molested Him in 1991, By Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 2, 2010
Father Bob Poandl, Glenmary Home Missioners for Rural America, February 4, 2010
Abuse-Victim Support Group Slams W.Va. Bishop, Your Silence in This Matter Is Deafening,' SNAP Says after Priest Is Arrested in Reported '91 Roane Assault, By Kathryn Gregory, Charleston Gazette, February 5, 2010
Ohio Priest Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Charges in WV, Dayton Daily News, February 12, 2010
Priest’s Attorneys Want Ex-nun’s Diary, By David Hedges, The Times Record, February 18, 2010,
Priest with New Orleans Ties Faces Sex Abuse Indictment in West Virginia, By Bruce Nolan, Times-Picayune, March 11, 2010
Ex-nun Refuses to Hand over Journal, By David Hedges, The Times Record, April 22, 2010
Rural Priest Accused of Child Sex Abuse in West Virginia, By Dana Clark, Savannah Morning News, May 4, 2010
Trial for Priest Postponed, Metro News, June 10, 2010
Roane Judge Dismisses Priest's 1991 Molestation Charges, By Andrew Clevenger, Charleston Gazette, August 30 2010
Judge Tosses Sex Abuse Case against Priest, By David Hedges, Times Record, September 2, 2010
Judge Dismisses 'With Prejudice' Sex Abuse Charges against Catholic Priest, Catholic News Agency, September 2, 2010
West Virginia v. Poandl Order 9.3.10
Glenmary Priest Returning to Active Ministry, Glenmary Home Missioners statement, Sept. 8, 2010
Priest in Cincinnati-based Order Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Relieved of Ministerial Duties, The Republic, February 15, 2012
Pembroke, Claxton Priest Removed from Church Duties over Abuse Allegations, By Jan Skutch, Savannah Morning News, February 17, 2012
Advocate Group Protests Former Atlanta Priest, By Bernard Watson, CBS Atlanta, February 22, 2012
Priest Returns to Cincinnati Amid Allegations, City Beat, February 27, 2012
Third Alleged Victim Accuses Former Savannah Area Priest of Abuse, By Jan Skutch, Savannah Morning News, August 22, 2012
New Abuse Allegations against Fmr Savannah Priest, By Andrew Davis, WSAV, August 23, 2012
Priest Accused of Sexual Misconduct Again, WCPO, August 23, 2012
Third Person Accuses Former Priest of Abuse, By Jan Skutch, Savannah Morning News, August 30, 2012
Priest Indicted on Federal Sex Crime Charge, WLWT, November 15, 2012
Fairfield Priest Faces Child Abuse Charge, By Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 15, 2012
Fairfield Priest Arrested on Child Sex Charges, WKRC, November 15, 2012
Ohio Priest Indicted for West Virginia Child Sex Crimes, By David Clohessy, SNAP, November 15, 2012
Priest in Ohio Order Jailed after 1991 Sex Claim, NECN, November 16, 2012
Former Pembroke Priest Indicted on Child Sex Charge, By Bryan County Now, Savannah Morning News, November 16, 2012
Priest Indicted, Arrested, Detained for Interstate Transportation of a Minor to Commit Sex, FBI, November 19, 2012
Priest Pleads Not Guilty to W.VA Abuse Charge, San Francisco Chronicle, November 19, 2012
Judge Releases Fairfield Priest on Bond, Fox 19, November 19, 2012
Priest Enters Not Guilty Plea in Child Sex Case, By Ed Richter, Fairfield Echo, November 20, 2012
Ohio Priest Accused of Abuse in W.va Released, San Francisco Chronicle, December 19, 2012


Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Poandl's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on Jan. 6, 2013

RETURN TO TOP

Timeline from Glenmary Home Missioners
:

Poandl_Robert_photo.jpgGlenmary Home Missioners
4085 Glenmary Trace
Fairfield, OH 45014

 


“When we Catholics live our faith joyfully, lettting it change our marriages, our families, our priesthod, then people will be drawn to 'come and see' what it is that we have and our Church will be transformed—so we can better transform society."

Biographical Information:
Hometown — Metuchen, N.J.
Home Diocese — Metuchen, N.J.

Formation History:
First Oath — 05/19/62
Perpetual Oath — 02/17/67
Ordination — 05/04/68
Date of Entry into Glenmary— 09/13/59

Formal Education:
A.B. — Athenaeum of Ohio
Our Lady of the Fields, Cincinnati, Ohio
M.Div. — St. Meinrad Seminary
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico — Centro de Idioma y Cultura Latino Americana

Assignment History:
Claxton/Pembroke/Sandhill, Ga.—Pastor
Cincinnati, Ohio — First Vice President
Hugo, Okla. — Pastor
Pittsburgh, Texas — Pastor
Pittsburgh/Mount Vernon, Texas — Pastor
Cincinnati, Ohio — Vocation Dir.
Cincinnati, Ohio — Vocation Counselor
Franklin, Ky. — Administrator
Blairsville, Ga. — Pastor
Dahlonega, Ga. — Pastor
Cincinnati, Ohio — House Dir.
Cincinnati, Ohio — Second Vice President
New Orleans, La. — House Dir.
Mifflintown/Doylesburg, Pa. — Administrator
New Orleans, La. — House Dir.
Aberdeen, Miss. — Pastor
Aberdeen, Miss. — Assoc. Pastor
Aberdeen, Miss. — Pastoral Year

RETURN TO TOP

Letter and statement from Bishop of Tyler, TX to SNAP  and parisioners, 03-17-2010.

Letter from SNAP to Bishop Schnurr

SNAP_Statement , "Trial_vs_Accused_predator_priest_dismissed:_SNAP_Responds", 08-30-2010.

SNAP blasts WV bishop
 He lets accused predator priest do letter to parishioners
 
Statement by  Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314 503 0003 cell, snapdorris@gmail.com
 
We're shocked and angry that Wheeling's Catholic bishop let one of his priests read a letter from an accused child molesting cleric to parishioners last Sunday.

link to news article with letter....   http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201008300958
 
Let's be clear: this alleged predator, Fr. Robert F. Poandl, was not 'cleared.' A judge determined that the defense lawyers hadn't gotten all of the documents they should have gotten before trial. That's all. There has been no determination of guilt or innocence.
 
And prosecutors can appeal the judge's ruling. Poandle may yet face criminal charges.
 
It's worth noting that the accused offender's supervisors are not declaring Poandl innocent.
 
Wheeling's bishop should be ashamed of himself. His callous and reckless move may well have deterred another victim, witness or whistleblower from speaking up and getting help.
 
He took a needless and possibly hurtful risk, just so an accused child molester could 'spin' a court ruling on a legal technicality.


RETURN TO TOP

Links to Related Stories:

Savannah, GA, SavannahNow.com, "Former Pembroke priest goes to prison for abuse", February 13, 2014. 

Savannah, GA, WSAV-3 CBS, "Former Coastal Empire Priest Sentenced in Molestation Case", February 12, 2014.  

Columbus, OH, The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio priest who raped boy gets 7 1/2 years", February 13, 2014.  

Wheeling, WV, The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register, "Ohio priest in child abuse case gets 7 ½ years", February 12, 2014.  

Tyler, TX, WKTV-7, "Former East Texas priest sentenced in sex abuse case", February 12, 2014.

Tyler, TX, Tyler Morning Telegraph, "Former Tyler priest sentenced to prison", February 12, 2014.  

Jackson, MS, Clarion Ledger, "Former Miss. priest sent to prison", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, WCPO-9 ABC, Rev. Robert Poandl: Convicted child molester receives 7-and-a-half year sentence [w/ video]", February 12, 2014.  

RETURN TO TOP

Cincinnati, OH, 700 WLW, "Former Priest Sentenced", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, FOX19-WXIX, "Ohio priest sentenced 7.5 years in sex abuse case", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, Journal-News, "Area priest sentenced in molestation case", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, WLWT-5 CBS, "Convicted priest gets 7 1/2 year prison sentence [w/video]", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, Cicinnati.com, "Dying priest sentenced to 7 1/2 years in 1991 sex abuse case", February 12, 2014.  

Cincinnati, OH, USA Today, "Priest sentenced to 7.5 years in 1991 sex abuse case", February 12, 2014.  

Savannah, GA, Savannahnow.com, "Third alleged victim accuses former Savannah diocese priest of abuse", August 22, 2012.

Cincinnati, OH, City Beat, "Priest_returns_to_cincinnati_amid_allegations", February 27, 2012.

Atlanta, GA, CBSAtlanta, "Advocate group protests former Atlanta priest", February 21, 2012.

RETURN TO TOP

Cincinnatti, OH, ONNtv, "Group Protests Priest Over Sex Abuse Allegations", February 21, 2012.

http://www.glenmary.org/site/epage/130601_919.htm  February 16, 2012.

http://savannahnow.com/news/2012-02-16/pembroke-claxton-priest-removed-church-duties-over-abuse-allegations#comment-244556

http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/feb/16/priest-serving-diocese-savannah-accused-sexual-mis-ar-3244027/

RETURN TO TOP

"Poandl trial dismissed" news links:

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/09/sex_abuse_charges_dismissed_ag.html

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/538585/Judge-dismisses-sex-abuse-charges.html?nav=5061

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201008300958

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/AB/20100830/NEWS010702/8310321/Sex-charges-against-priest-dismissed

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/5ad67ac0b1bf49c489c61a35c3848195/WV--Priest_Abuse/

http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=5226891&c=y

http://www.wlwt.com/r/24815064/detail.html

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/w-va-judge-tosses-sex-abuse-case-against-priest-888738.html?cxtype=rss_ohio-news

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100830/NEWS010702/8310321/Judge-throws-out-sex-charges-against-priest

http://www.journal-news.com/news/ohio-news/w-va-judge-tosses-sex-abuse-case-against-priest-888738.html?cxtype=rss_ohio-news

http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201008300497

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio-news/w-va-judge-tosses-sex-abuse-case-against-priest-888738.html

http://www2.wnct.com/lifestyles/2010/aug/30/wva-judge-tosses-sex-abuse-case-against-priest-ar-355148/

RETURN TO TOP

Savannah Morning News, "Rural priest accused of child sex abuse in West Virginia", May 4, 2010.

Spencer, WV, The Times Record, "Ex-nun refuses to hand over journal", April 22, 2010.

Charleston Gazette, Letter to Editor, "Sadie's words callous, hurtful", April 21, 2010.

Charleston Gazette, OpEd, "Edward Sadie: Celibacy not at fault in sexual abuse crisis", April 10, 2010.

New Orleans CBS WWLTV 4, "Support group wants to release names of alleged abusers in Catholic church", March 10, 2010.

New Orleans Fox 8 Live, "Former New Orleans cleric indicted on sex abuse, March 10, 2010.

Atlanta NBC 11 Alive, "Group Asks Archdiocese to Reach Out to Sexual Abuse Victims", March 10, 2010.

Spencer, WV, The Times Record, "Priest's Attorneys Want Ex-nun's Diary", February 19, 2010.

Spencer, WV, The Times Record, "Priest's Attorneys Want Ex-nun's Diary", February 19, 2010.

RETURN TO TOP

SNAP_Statement, "Predator_Priest_Indicted - Victims_Respond", February 11, 2010.

Spencer, WV, The Times Record, "Priest Indicted on Sex Charges", February 11, 2010.

Columbus WBNS-TV10/ONN-TV, "Group Preaches To Cincinnati's Catholic Archbishop", Frebruary 5, 2010.

The Charleston Gazette, "Abuse-victim support group slams W.Va. bishop", Frebruary 5, 2010.

Cinicinnati WXIX19, "Group criticizes Archbishop Schnurr over indicted priest", February 4, 2010.

Dayton Daily News, "Archbishop’s response to priest’s sexual abuse allegations questioned", February 4, 2010.

Cincinnati Inquirer, "Abuse group challenges archbishop", February 4, 2010.

Dayton Daily News, "Priest pulled from duties amid sex abuse allegations", February 4, 2010.

Middletown Journal, "Area Priest Facing Molestation Charges", February 3, 2010.

Charleston Daily Mail, "Priest indicted on molestation charges", February 3, 2010.

RETURN TO TOP

Cincinnati WKRC12, "Cincinnati Priest Faces Sex Charges", February 3, 2010.

Cincinnati WCPO9, Local Priest Accused of Sex Abuse In West Virginia", February 3, 2010.

Cincinnati Inquirer, "Priest in local order faces abuse charges", February 2, 2010.

Charleston WOWK13, "Ohio Priest Charged with Sexual Abuse in West Virginia", February 2, 2010.

Charleston MetroNews, "No Time Is Too Late", February 2, 2010.

Cincinnati WLWT5, "Area Priest Indicted On W.Va. Sex Crime Charges", February 2, 2010.



RETURN TO TOP

RETURN TO PHOTO PAGE

RETURN TO WELCOME PAGE