A former priest at St. Cecilia’s Parish was sentenced to five years in penitentiary on July 4. Konstanty Przybylski appeared in the Simcoe court for sentencing following an extended court trial during which he pleaded guilty to sex crimes against two young altar boys in his Port Dover congregation.
Phillippe-Alexandre Lauriault and Trevor Kannawin, who had been abused, told the court during the trial the abuse began in 1995 when Trevor was 13 years old and lasted four years. Lauriault’s abuse began when he was 17 and took place between 1998 and 2000.
Konstanty Przybylski, 56 years of age, now living in London, was given the maximum of a range of three and five years for sexual abuse convictions by Justice Martha Zivolak in the Simcoe courtroom.
Prior to the sentencing the former priest of St. Cecilia’s Church here gave a brief apology to his two victims who were in the courtroom. He asked for their forgiveness.
Both victims, Phillippe-Alexandre Lauriault, now age 22 and Trevor Kannawin, 23, had allowed their names to be released to the public because they wanted to speak out and encourage others in similar circumstances to come forward.
Mr. Lauriault and Mr. Kannawin have filed a civil suit against Mr. Przybylski and the Diocese of London each seeking $3.1 million in damages. They explain the purpose of the multi-million dollar figure is to get the attention of senior church officials who they say did not take their original complaints seriously nor took disciplinary action.
The lawyer for the Port Dover men, Rob Talach of London expects the civil proceedings could take 18 to 24 months.
