‘father bill’ arrested: maryland priest charged with decades-old child sex abuse

TOWSON, MD — A former Catholic priest was arrested Monday and charged with multiple child sex abuse offenses stemming from incidents that occurred in the early 1990s, Baltimore County Police announced.

William “Father Bill” Mannion, 62, was taken into custody after a months-long investigation by the department’s Crimes Against Children Unit. The charges include second-degree child abuse and multiple sex offenses involving a survivor who came forward in October 2023.

Key Points

William “Father Bill” Mannion, 62, was arrested March 24 on child sex abuse charges.
The abuse allegedly occurred between 1991 and 1994 on St. Agnes Lane in Baltimore County.
Police believe there may be additional victims and are encouraging them to come forward.

The survivor reported abuse that took place from approximately 1991 through 1994 in the 600 block of St. Agnes Lane in ZIP code 21229, according to investigators.

Detectives worked closely with the survivor during the investigation, which ultimately led to the charges filed this week against Mannion.

Officials are asking anyone with additional information or who may have been a victim to contact the Crimes Against Children Unit at 410-887-7720 or Child Protective Services at 410-887-8463.

Detectives suspect there may be more victims tied to the former priest’s alleged abuse.

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