Priest Accused Of Sexual Abuse Of 10YO

BRONXVILLE, NY — A priest was charged with sexually abusing a child in a Bronxille parish school. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Thomas Kreiser, 53, most recently of Riverdale, was arraigned on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse, a felony.

Authorities said Kreiser touched the intimate parts of a 10-year-old child.

He surrendered to police Tuesday and was arraigned in Bronxville Village Court.

Kreiser's bail was set at $10,000 or $20,000 bond.

He is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 16.

Scarpino said that, on Sept. 20, Kreiser engaged in touching a child on an intimate part of her body while in a school building in Bronxville during the school day.

The 10-year-old was fully clothed, police said.

At the time, Kreiser was employed as a Roman Catholic priest by the Archdiocese of New York and was stationed at St. Joseph's Parish, which includes a church and elementary school.

As part of his duties, he was visiting the school at the time of the alleged abuse.

The Archdiocese has since removed Kreiser from the parish.

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Photo caption: Thomas Kreiser. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.