Father Brendan Williams arrested on child sex abuse charges

September 20, 2019 at 10:10 p.m.


On Sept. 20, 2019, the Diocese of Trenton was informed by a representative of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office of the arrest of Father Brendan Williams on charges of criminal sexual contact with a child occurring in the late 1990s. Father Williams is the former pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and has been out of active ministry since 2012.

The Diocese of Trenton first received these allegations against Father Williams in November, 2018, and immediately reported it to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in whose jurisdiction the alleged conduct had taken place.

Father Williams appears on the list of credibly accused clergy which the Diocese posted on its website in February 2019. That list can be accessed here.

The Diocese continues to offer full cooperation with law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution of this complaint. We offer our prayers for the victim and all who have been impacted.

As always, we encourage anyone who was sexually abused as a minor or vulnerable adult by any representative of the Church to report that abuse to local law enforcement authorities and the Diocese of Trenton by calling our hotline at 1-888-296-2965 or emailing [email protected].  All complaints are reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately.


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On Sept. 20, 2019, the Diocese of Trenton was informed by a representative of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office of the arrest of Father Brendan Williams on charges of criminal sexual contact with a child occurring in the late 1990s. Father Williams is the former pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and has been out of active ministry since 2012.

The Diocese of Trenton first received these allegations against Father Williams in November, 2018, and immediately reported it to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in whose jurisdiction the alleged conduct had taken place.

Father Williams appears on the list of credibly accused clergy which the Diocese posted on its website in February 2019. That list can be accessed here.

The Diocese continues to offer full cooperation with law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution of this complaint. We offer our prayers for the victim and all who have been impacted.

As always, we encourage anyone who was sexually abused as a minor or vulnerable adult by any representative of the Church to report that abuse to local law enforcement authorities and the Diocese of Trenton by calling our hotline at 1-888-296-2965 or emailing [email protected].  All complaints are reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

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