St. Louis County Judge John F. Kintz sentenced Father Gary P. Wolken on Feb. 28 to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a boy who'd been a family friend.

Father Wolken, 37, pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to two counts of sodomy and six counts of child molestation. The charges cover a three-year-period, authorities said.

Father Wolken was ordained in 1993. He served for four years as associate pastor of Ascension Parish in Chesterfield and two years at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in University City before being named to Our Lady of Sorrows in 1999. He left that parish last March when the complaint of child sexual abuse was first brought to the archdiocese and was charged with the crimes last June.

The archdiocese released the following statement after the sentencing: "The sentencing today of Gary Wolken brings to an end the civil proceedings in the case of the grave sexual abuse of a child. Admitting the grave evil, Gary Wolken took full responsibility for his actions as soon as the allegation was made. Now the court has imposed a sentence which it believes to be proportionate to the crime and appropriate to the circumstances.

"We continue to pray for the young victim of this tragedy, and for the family, that they will experience the healing power of God and His enduring peace. We also pray for Gary Wolken."