A Philadelphia priest has been charged over claims he raped a teenage altar girl and filmed the abuse.
Armand Garcia, 49, is accused of attacking the girl in August 2014 while he was preaching at the Immaculate Heart of Mary church in the north of the city.
Garcia allegedly met with the girl in private over a number of years when he offered her alcohol or marijuana, it is claimed.
Sources close to the investigation told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Garcia met with the girl in the rectory, his living quarters, and other locations starting when she was about 16.
In 2017, Garcia was moved to another parish at which point the girl approached police with her allegations and an investigation was launched.
Officers raided Garcia’s rectory in March 2018 and he was placed on administrative leave the same day.
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