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Virginia

Former Catholic priest gets eight years in 1980s sexual abuse of 14-year-old

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A former Catholic priest has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old in Virginia in the 1980s.

Scott Asalone, 66, a former priest of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, was 29 when the sexual abuse occurred in 1985.

“Today’s sentencing brings long, overdue justice to the brave victim who came forward and told their story,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Asalone, of Asbury Park, N.J., was indicted by a multi-jurisdiction grand jury in March 2020, arrested in New Jersey on March 14, 2020, extradited to Virginia, and remained on bond pending trial.

On Dec. 12, 2022, Asalone entered a plea of guilty under the Alford rule in Loudon County Circuit Court to felony carnal knowledge of a minor between 13 and 15 years of age.

Asolone was removed from public duties in 1993 and dismissed from the Order of Capuchin Friars in 2007.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].