Former Priest Charged With Child Sexual Abuse: Baltimore County Police

CATONSVILLE, MD — A former priest was charged with child sexual abuse in Catonsville, police announced Monday.

Officers identified the suspect as 62-year-old William Mannion of Sparrows Point.

Authorities said the abuse happened from 1991 through 1994 in the 600 block of St. Agnes Lane. That's in the area of St. Agnes Church and St. Agnes Catholic School.

Detectives think there could be more victims and urge them to come forward.

Court records show that "Father Bill" was charged with:

• Child abuse: custodian (Felony)
• Sodomy-generally (Felony)
• Perverted practice (Misdemeanor)
• Second-degree sex offense on an underage victim (Felony)
• Third-degree sex offense on an underage victim (Felony)

The case file says Judge Stanley Ferguson issued an arrest warrant last Thursday and it was served this Monday.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore said Mannion left the priesthood in the late 1990s and requested to be laicized, or formally removed from the clerical state, for reasons not related to the abuse allegations. The Vatican laicized him in 2004. He later married and had a family.

"The Archdiocese of Baltimore is saddened to learn of allegations of abuse by Mannion and is committed to cooperating fully with law enforcement. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is committed to protecting children and helping to heal victims of abuse. We urge anyone who has any knowledge of any child sexual abuse to contact law enforcement and call the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection," the Archdiocese told Patch in a Tuesday email.

St. Agnes Catholic School announced this January that it will close at the end of the academic year amid declining enrollment and lofty repair costs. St. Agnes Church will remain open, however.

Though St. Agnes Church will continue operations, the news came as the Archdiocese of Baltimore closes nearly two-thirds of its other churches. The plan, dubbed Seek the City to Come, is trimming the region from 61 parishes at 59 worship sites to 23 parishes at 30 worship sites.

Archbishop William Lori cited the declining Baltimore City population and lower mass attendance.

The Archdiocese also filed for bankruptcy in September 2023 in expectations of sexual abuse lawsuits. Lori said the bankruptcy would help provide equitable settlements to the victims.

The Baltimore County Police Department asked potential victims of Mannion to call the Crimes Against Children Unit at 410-887-7720 or Child Protective Services at 410-887-8463.

This map shows the area where officers alleged that Mannion abused the victim.

Related:

• Catholic School Closing In Baltimore County, Archdiocese Consolidates
• Baltimore Archdiocese Files For Bankruptcy Ahead Of Likely Lawsuits