Former Catholic priest Rene Paul Emile Labelle leaves court in Kingston on Friday Jan. 17, after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage boy 10 years ago. IAN MACALPINE/KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARD/QMI AGENCY
A retired priest convicted of molesting a teenage boy in the rectory of a Wolfe Island church about a decade ago, has died.
Rene Paul Emile Labelle was found in his west end Kingston apartment earlier this week, he was 65.
The former chaplain at Holy Cross Secondary School was sentenced in April to 16 months in jail, followed by probation for 30 months with counselling. He had yet to begin serving his sentence.
At his trial in January, Labelle estified that he denied doing what he was charged with. His defence lawyer, John Eccelstone, confirmed at the conclusion of his sentencing hearing that his client was appealing the conviction and has already applied for bail pending that appeal.
Kingston Police were called to the apartment building on Norwest Road on Monday where Labelle’s body was discovered.
Kingston Police Const. Steve Koopman said detectives and forensic officers attended the scene and have ruled out foul play in the death.
Labelle resigned from the church in January 2012 when the allegations against him were becoming public. His last assignment was at St. Barnaby Catholic Church on Hwy. 15 near Brewers Mills.
– The Whig-Standard
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Former Quinte area priest found dead
Wed, Aug 27th, ’14 – 6:02 am
Reverend Rene Labelle, a former Quinte area Roman Catholic priest has died.
The 65 year-old was discovered dead in his west-end Kingston apartment on Monday.
Labelle was appealing a court ruling which found him guilty on sex assault charges against a minor, something he denied.
Labelle plead not guilty and maintained his innocence in the case, which completed in April.
He was scheduled to appear in a Kingston court tomorrow.
Rene Labelle was a former chaplain of Nicholson Catholic College and a priest in both Belleville and Tyendinaga Township.
No foul play is suspected in his death.