Mormon Leaders Meet With Police Amid Sex Abuse Allegations

METHUEN, Mass. -- In Methuen Wednesday, legal representatives from the Mormon church began working with investigators to look into allegations of sexual abuse by a worker at a local church.

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Amalia Barreda Reports On Investigation

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that the collaboration may signal a spirit of cooperation between the church and police.

Representatives from the Mormon church in Utah came and went without comment Wednesday, but police say the meeting was positive, and will begin meeting with local church leaders about the abuse allegations.

"We want the opportunity to interview the leadership of the church, as well as make sure it is conveyed to the parishioners that there was a sex offender in the church and that there was an individual that was arrested for molesting a child in the church and elsewhere, and we want to make sure that no other children were victimized," said Methuen Police Lt. Michael Wnek.

The sex offender, Peter Pacquette, 59, was a volunteer librarian at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Methuen. He was arrested last week for failing to register as a sex offender.

Earlier in the week, police arrested Kevin Curlew, 43, on charges of sexually assaulting the 9-year-old son of a fellow church member inside the church. Police say both men would watch children while adults attended church meetings.

Wnek said investigators are trying to find out if the church did background checks on its workers.

"Anyone that is put in a position in the church that would have direct access, watching kids or even teaching kids religion, we want to make sure the proper avenues were followed," he said.

Curlew was to appear at a dangerousness hearing at Lawrence District Court Wednesday, but he waived his right to appear and remains behind bars without bail.