Ronald Lger, former priest, pleads guilty to sex assault

A 77-year-old former priestsurprised a Winnipeg court Monday by pleading guilty to threesexassault charges and one charge of sexual interference.

Rev. Ronald Lgerhad previously indicated he would not plead guilty to the offences, whichoccurred between 1984 and2004.

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The sexual interference charge is because one of the victims wasunder 16 years of age.

Lger, whoused to lead Holy Family Parish and founded Teen StopJeunesse,will be sentenced early next week and his name added to the national sex offender registry.

He remains free on bail.

Lger was arrested earlier this year after three males between the ages of nine and 18 came forward. Two were attacked in the 1980s, while the third occurred between 2002 and 2004.