Greensburg, PA — Pennsylvania State Police arrested a retired priest and chaplain with sex-related crimes dating back to 2009 after two victims came forward initiating the criminal investigation. 

Robert Byrnes, 84, is facing aggravated indecent assault without consent, obstruction, and official oppression. 

Through 2018, Byrnes was a chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies, and was issued a badge and a state police uniform. 

He resided at Christ Our Shepard Center in Greensburg where he had an apartment above the kitchen. 

In late March, a victim reported a sexual assault to the state police that allegedly occurred at Christ Our Shepard where the victim worked in the kitchen in May of 2014. 

The victim stated he was in the kitchen of the center when Byrnes approached him from behind and touched him inappropriately under his underwear which was unsolicited and unwanted. 

During the course of the investigation, another victim was identified who also worked in the kitchen of the center prior to the initial reported assault in 2014. 

The victim told state police Byrnes befriended him and started inviting him up to his apartment after work. 

State police said Byrnes invited the victim to various casinos around the area, watched him shower, and provided him alcohol. 

The victim claimed he would wake up naked the next morning in the same bed as Byrnes with Byrnes allegedly touching him inappropriately. The victim told police the touching was unsolicited and unwanted. 

Investigators said Byrnes brought the victim to state police functions while he was acting in the capacity of chaplain and introduced him to other members of state police. 

The victim claimed another incident of unwanted and inappropriate touching occurred at a casino with Byrnes and the victim quit his job at the center the following week. His last date of employment was in May of 2014. 

In recent months, the victims confronted Byrnes about the alleged abuse in recorded conversations. 

Byrnes allegedly deterred them from reporting the abuse for the sake of the reputation of the church, priesthood, and his family. Byrnes told the victims outside counseling would be unhelpful and he would provide counseling to them about the matters. 

Byrnes allegedly asked both victims to forgive him and asked them to ask God to forgive him. 

Byrnes was arraigned on the criminal charges Friday evening and released on $250,000 unsecured bail. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.