CINCINNATI -- A priest who was placed on leave from a local Catholic church last month has been indicted on nine counts of rape, according to the Hamilton County prosecutor.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced the indictment for Rev. Geoffrey D. Drew during a Monday afternoon press conference.
The incidents occurred between 1988 and 1991 when Drew was employed as a music minister at St. Jude School in Green Township, Deters said. He was not a priest at the time; he was ordained in 2004.
A Hamilton County Grand Jury handed down the indictment Monday. If convicted, Drew faces life in prison, Deters said.
A 41-year-old man testified before a grand jury last week after the meetings at St. Ignatius of Loyola were publicized, Deters said. The man said he was 10 and 11 years old and was an altar boy when the incidents occurred, Deters said.
"It was very emotional," Deters said. "It was emotional for him. It was emotional for the grand jury. It was a very emotional piece of testimony. And he deserves a lot of credit for coming forward, as difficult as it is. He could've just said, 'I'm moving on with my life,' but he wanted to stop this behavior. And he's going to."
A tough day today.
My office is issuing a 9-count indictment against Geoffrey Drew for allegedly raping an elementary student while working at St. Jude in the late 90s.
It’s sickening to know this sort of thing goes on with people we trust to be around our kids. 1/2
— Joe Deters (@JosephTDeters) August 19, 2019
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati released the following statement:
"Today, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati learned that a Hamilton County Grand Jury returned a nine-count indictment against Fr. Geoff Drew stemming from alleged crimes during his time at St. Jude Parish, where he served as music director 1984-1999. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati was made aware of these allegations after Archbishop Schnurr removed Fr. Drew as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish on July 23. We have fully cooperated with this investigation and will continue to do so. The protection of young people is of paramount importance and can never be compromised."
Officials placed Drew on leave on July 23 after he had been accused of sending inappropriate text messages to at least one boy.
Drew had been the pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola from July 1, 2018 until he was placed on leave on July 23, 2019.
Officials with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati say they made "serious mistakes" in responding to parishioners' concerns about Drew's behavior dating back at least six years.
Parishioners of St. Maximilian Kolbe, where Drew was pastor from July 2009 to June 2018, expressed concerns to the central office of the archdiocese in 2013 and again in 2015, according to a news release from the archdiocese.
Drew's concerning behavior included "uninvited bear hugs, shoulder massages, patting of the leg above the knee, and inappropriate sexual comments about one's body or appearance, directed at teenage boys," the release said.
His departure from Maximilian was not related to parishioners' prior complaints, according to the archdiocese; he had requested the switch himself so he could live closer to his mother.
Drew taught and ministered at eight different Catholic schools and parishes in southwest Ohio, beginning in 1983.
Deters said he believes there could be other victims.
"It's very rare that we uncover this type of activity and it's the first and only one," Deters said.
If you or someone you know has any information about Drew, you should contact Cincinnati Police Officer Dana Jones at 513-352-6947.
This story was originally published by WCPO in Cincinnati.
