A grand jury returned indictments against a former Fall River and New Bedford pastor on Friday, with multiple counts of rape and assault and battery.
The Rev. Mark Hession was indicted out of Barnstable Superior Court on two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child less than 14 and one count of intimidation of a witness, a superior court official confirmed Monday.
Hession served as parochial vicar at Holy Name Church in Fall River after he was ordained in 1984 and in 1987 was transferred to St. Mary Church in New Bedford. He also has served at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans and at Charlton Memorial Hospital as a chaplain.