UNSEALED WARRANTS ACCUSE PRIEST OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
By: Francine Maglione

New Britain Herald, CT
Aug. 23, 2006

NEW BRITAIN – Armenian priest Krikoris Keshishian, 54, made an
appearance in court Tuesday morning in his continuing battle against
charges that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl last year.

Judge Patrick J. Clifford said the case will be continued "for
further pretrial."

Keshishian, of 21 Garry Drive, was first arrested on May 9 on charges
of fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to, or impairing the
morals of, a minor. Police reported that Keshishian had inappropriately
touched a 12-year-old parishioner of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic
Church in May 2005.

In his defense, Keshishian claimed that the alleged touching happened
by accident while he was attempting to catch the girl as she was
falling off a table. However, once the arrest warrant was unsealed,
a number of new accusations were brought to light, some including
the friend of the 12-year-old girl.

The warrant stated that Keshishian fondled the friend of the victim,
and had once asked her what color underwear she was wearing. He had
also repeatedly invited the two girls to visit Paris with him and
gave gifts to the victim on several occasions for no apparent reason,
the warrant stated.

When questioned by police, the victim claimed that Keshishian’s story
of catching her while she was falling off a table was untrue. She
also claimed that on May 22, 2005, Keshishian touched her buttocks
while he was hugging her.

The friend of the victim accused the priest of touching her leg while
kissing her on the cheek, the warrant stated.

Keshishian’s next court date will be Sept. 20.