Ex-nun convicted of molestation 35 years ago

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A former nun was convicted Wednesday of molesting a 10-year-old fifth-grader at a Catholic school 35 years ago.

Eileen M. Rhoads, 65, entered an Alford plea to taking indecent liberties with a child and enticement of a child. Under the plea, a defendant acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction without admitting wrongdoing.

Rhoads faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced Sept. 22. She will remain free on bail until then.

The crimes took place during the 1969-1970 school year at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School. Court documents show Rhoads took part in illicit behavior with at least three male students and a female student, or encouraged the children to engage in illicit behavior with each other.

Rhoads fondled and kissed some of the children and encouraged the children to touch her, sometimes in a school closet, records show. She also shared pornographic material with the children.

Rhoads faces similar accusations in Pennsylvania, where she was a lay teacher in a Catholic school after leaving Virginia.