Charles Englehardt (right), and Bernard Shero. (Credit: Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office).
A judge on Wednesday sentenced former Catholic priest Charles Englehardt and parochial school teacher Bernard Shero for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old elementary student between 1998 and 2000 at St. Jerome Parish in the Holme Circle section of Philadelphia.
Englehardt received six to 12 years in prison followed by five years of reporting probation.
Shero was handed down an eight to 16-year sentence, also followed by five years of probation.
A jury on January 30 convicted Shero of rape, attempted rape, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, indecent sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor.
Englehardt was the same day found guilty of indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of a minor and conspiracy.
Today’s sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for April 18, but was two months ago continued.
Following his conviction, Engelhardt faced a maximum sentence of 37 years in jail, while Shero could have received up to 57 years imprisonment.
Another parish official, former Catholic priest Edward Avery, last year pleaded guilty to assaulting the same 10-year-old student and is currently serving a two-and-a-half to five-year prison term for the crime.
