Former Louisiana Priest Faces More Molestation Charges

A former Catholic priest in Louisiana faces more charges of molesting a juvenile.

Patrick Wattigny is now accused in another case after a second victim stepped forward with allegations of sexual abuse. Wattigny was arrested two years ago for similar charges.

What Allegedly Happened in 2020?

Wattigny was serving at St. Luke's in Slidell and as Chaplain at Archbishop Rummel High in Metairie when he allegedly molested a teenage boy back in 2013. The victim was age 15 when the alleged assaults happened. The case was filed when the boy came forward accusing Wattigny of grooming him in phone conversations and text messages. The molestation allegedly happened in the church’s rectory and other locations.

This latest victim alleges priest Patrick Wattigny sexually abused him when he was in elementary school at a Covington area Catholic school. No other details have been released by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office about these latest allegations. But they did say the second victim got in touch with police in August to detail what happened to him.

Wattigny plead not guilty to the first charges last year and was released on bond.

New Orleans Archdiocese spokesperson Sarah McDonald did issue this brief statement:

We are aware of the arrest of Patrick Wattigny on charges of molestation of a juvenile,” McDonald. Our prayers are with the victim of this abuse. We have cooperated with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office investigation and pledge our continued cooperation as this moves forward.

Attorney Robert Stern, told WWL-TV that Wattigny turned himself in when he was informed about these latest allegations.