Ex-Catholic Priest Facing Felony Charges

Charges were filed against father Charles “Robert” Manning on Thursday in an El Paso County courtroom.

Manning is facing seven charges including:

– Three counts of Sex Assault On A Child In A Position Of Trust Pattern – Two counts of Contributing to the Dilenquent of a Minor – Two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children, a child pornography offense.

Manning is the former head priest at the St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Colorado Springs.

An arrest affidavit was released Friday that details the charges against Manning. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy. According to the affidavit, a second 16-year-old boy was not sexually assualted, but Manning provided alcohol and marijuana to both boys.

The affidavit said the boy who was sexually assaulted moved to Virginia shortly after the alleged abuse.

Police said they searched Manning’s home and found marijuana and a “large volume of pornographic material”.

Manning’s attorney requested a motion for Manning to leave the state of Colorado and go back to his permanent residence of St. Louis.

Judge Timothy Schutz granted that request under certain conditions.

Manning is not to have contact with a child under the age of 18, he has to check in with local law enforcement and is required to have weekly drug and alcohol testing.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled July 19th.