Priest faces obstruction
charge in child porn case

The pastor of St. Eugene Catholic Church resigned June 9 after he was charged with allegedly deleting hundreds of child pornographic images from the home computer of his music minister in an effort to thwart a police investigation.

The Rev. John Schneider, who has headed the north Asheville church since 2005, resigned after his first appearance in Buncombe County District Court on a charge of felony obstruction of justice.

The Most. Rev. Peter J. Jugis, the bishop overseeing the Diocese of Charlotte, traveled to Asheville on June 9 to meet with Schneider.

Jugis later issued a statement on his acceptance of the priest’s resignation.

“For the good of the St. Eugene Parish community, Father John Schneider has resigned as pastor of the parish,” Jugis said. “In the near future, a priest will be named to lead St. Eugene Parish.” St. Eugene claims a membership of about 1,000 families.

“The sacramental life of the parish will not be interrupted,” Jugis said. “Weekend masses will be celebrated at the usual times. Father Schneider has asked for prayers for all members of the St. Eugene Parish family and for himself.”

Schneider, 56, told Judge Calvin Hill during the court appearance that he understood his rights under the law. He told Hill that he is hiring Asheville attorney David Besler to represent him. Schneider was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Schneider entered the North Ridge Drive apartment of former music minister Paul Lawrence Berrell on May 18 and deleted hundreds of pornographic images of children “in secret and with malice” during a criminal investigation of Berrell, a warrant states.

Berrell, who no longer works for the church, remains incarcerated under a $1.5 million bond, police said.

A court hearing for Schneider, scheduled June 19, was continued until Aug. 14. Schneider will face a probably cause hearing on a felony charge of obstruction of justice.

Ex-priest at St. Lawrence
faces charge of sex abuse

A Philadelphia man has alleged in a lawsuit that he was sexually molested as a child by two priests at the Basilica of St. Lawrence in downtown Asheville.

The lawsuit, filed June 1 in Buncombe County Superior Court, accuses the Rev. Justin Paul Pechulis as being one of the perpetrators. Pechulis, the church’s pastor at the time, died in 1983.

In seeking damages for emotional and physical abuse, the complaint alleges Pechulis and the Rev. John McCole of Philadelphia forced teenager Steven Sounder to engaged in group oral sex during a trip to Asheville in the late 1970s. McCole is now retired.

Souder repressed memories of being abused until 2007 because of mental illness, the lawsuit stated.

The suit names the Diocese of Charlotte, which governs Catholic churchs across Western North Carolina, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

It contends church officials engaged in a conspiracy to protect Pechulis and McCole and other pedophile priests.
Souder’s attorney, Jay Abramowitch reportedly said the church officials not only knew about the abuse, the condoned it and covered it up. Souder was 15 or 16 at the time.

David Haines, spokesman for the Diocese of Charlotte, said diocese officials would have no comment until they review the complaints.

Perchulis was pastor at Basilica of St. Lawrence from 1977 until his unexpected death in the church rectory in 1983 at the age of 53.

A death certificate lists the cause as hypertension and heart disease. The church at the time was called St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church.

TIn comments to the Philadelphia Daily News, McCole said he knew Souder, but denied the abuse allegations.

DSS worker hurt in attack; safety training gets priority

A worker in the Buncombe County Department of Social Services was attacked while dealing with a client recently.
 Deborah Jones Ogle was taking an application in her cubicle at the Coxe Avenue agency on June 2 when a client began beating her with his fists, officials said.

A deputy and other employees subdued the man as he attempted to flee. Authorities issued warrants charging William Trammel, 37, of Horse Barn Road, Candler, with assault on a government official, injury to personal property and assault inflicting serious injury, police noted.

Ogle was treated at the hospital and released. Officials are unsure of the motive for the attack and are continuing to investigate.

UNCA police charge man
with criminal trespass

UNC Asheville campus police arrested and charged Jayson Scott McRae, 33, of Asheville with second-degree criminal trespass in Karpen Hall at 7:50 p.m. June 4.

McRae, who is listed as unemployed and “refused” to list his nearest relative’s name, was being held on a $500 bond. His trial is set at 1 p.m. July 17 in D3 court in Asheville.

Campus police also released the following activity reports:

• Christina Glenn Tugman, 42, of Asheville reported $200 damage to her 2008 Kia Sorento autumobile at 11:30 a.m. June 13 at PVA Lot No. 1 on campus.

The criminal damage to her property involved “scratching off paint,” the report noted.

Tugman stated that her vehicle had no damage when she last saw it at 8 a.m. June 13.

• McKay Miles Mullen, a UNCA student with no age listed, reported a larceny of $100 in keys from Highsmith University Union at 12:34 p.m. June 19. The keys were last known to be secure at 7:55 a.m. June 19.