Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced during a news conference in Lehigh County Courthouse Aug. 21 criminal charges were filed against a Roman Catholic priest from the Diocese of Allentown.

Kevin Lonergan, 30, of 130 S. 25th St., Pottsville, was charged with one count each of corruption of minors, a felony of the third degree, and indecent assault, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Lonergan was prohibited from the exercise of public ministry June 7 by a decree of the Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., bishop of Allentown.

Attorneys for the diocese in June 2018 reported to Martin that Lonergan, while serving as a priest, allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a 17-year-old female, “Jane Doe,” whom he met through his work as a priest.

An investigation was opened by Detective Andrew Millen, in the district attorney’s office, assisted by county Detective Paul Iannace, commanding officer of the Officer David M. Petzold Digital Forensics Laboratory of Lehigh County, on the campus of DeSales University, and Senior Deputy District Attorney Anna-Kristie Morffi Marks, who will prosecute the case in court.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined in August 2017, Lonergan allegedly met the teen before Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 801 N. 11th St., Allentown.

Shortly after the initial meeting, he allegedly obtained her cellphone number from another member of the church.

During the period of December 2017 through January 2018, Lonergan allegedly communicated electronically with the teen.

Many of those communications were allegedly sexual in nature and occurred via Snapchat, a social media application through which users can share photos and video.

Martin alleged during some of the electronic communications, Lonergan sent nude images of himself to the girl.

Lonergan allegedly hugged the teen on Feb. 1 at St. Francis of Assisi Church. While he was embracing her, the teen allegedly said she could feel Lonergan being stimulated, and attempted to pull away from him.

He allegedly continued to pull her toward him and then grabbed her buttocks over her clothes, she said.

As a result of the investigation, it is alleged the defendant committed indecent assault and corruption of a minors in his contact with the teen.

Martin thanked Bishop Alfred A. Schlert for having this matter immediately reported to law enforcement.

“I also wish to advise the public and parishioners of the diocese, that Bishop Schlert wanted to act very quickly and transparently to report this and to inform the public of Lonergan’s removal from active ministry, but he held off doing so at my request, in order not to compromise our investigation,” Martin said.

Lonergan was arraigned at Central Booking at Lehigh County Prison, 38 N. Fourth St., Allentown, while the news conference was in progress.

His bail was set at $50,000 unsecured, and he was released.