A Catholic priest from Westmoreland County has been criminally charged for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy.

The arrest on Monday of the Rev. John T. Sweeney, of Greensburg, marks the latest crackdown on clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania and is part of a broader ongoing investigation by the state Attorney General's office into additional allegations of abuse by priest.

Sweeney was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, a first-degree felony.

BREAKING: Father John T. Sweeney charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, allegedly involving 10y/o in early 90s #WPXI pic.twitter.com/uCkgYqB4Qb — Melanie Marsalko (@WPXIMelanie) July 24, 2017

"Children are targeted by predators because they are vulnerable," said Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who announced the charges at the news conference in Lower Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, near the St. Margaret Mary's Catholic School where, authorities say, the victim was a fourth grade student when the sexual assault took place during the 1991-92 school year. The school is in the Greensburg Diocese.

"It often takes victims of child sexual abuse years or decades to come forward, because they struggle with shame, confusion, or fear."But once a victim finds the courage to come forward, law enforcement should take action," Shapiro said.

According to the grand jury's presentment, the victim - while in fourth grade - was sent to Sweeney for discipline because he had been disruptive on a school bus.

The grand jury found that Sweeney used his authority and position as a priest, under the guise of a disciplinarian, to gain access to the victim and to force the victim to perform oral sex on Sweeney in a conference room next to Sweeney's office inside the St. Margaret Mary Parish.

After Sweeney finished sexually assaulting the 10-year-old boy, Sweeney's parish secretary brought the boy milk and cookies, the report said.

The victim last September reported the crime to police, which led to the attorney general's office involvement.

In March 2016, then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane released grand jury findings that documented the sexual abuse of hundreds of children at the hands of priests and religious leaders in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

The findings detailed widespread abuse involving at least 50 priests or religious leaders. The findings reveal a troubling history of diocesan superiors concealing the child abuse as part of an effort to protect the church's image. The abuse had been going on for more than four decades.

Clergy sex abuse has roiled across the Catholic Church in recent decades with scandals across the world and the U.S. In Philadelphia, a 2011 grand jury report found widespread clergy sexual abuse and concealment by church officials. The diocese removed a number of priests deemed unsuitable for the priesthood. Philadelphia also resulted in the conviction and sentencing of Monsignor William Lynn, the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic Church official convicted in a child sex abuse scandal.

According to authorities, Sweeney's victim testified that he kept his abuse secret his entire life to protect his parents, who he feared would blame themselves.

He was motivated to come forward about his abuse out of concern that Sweeney was harming other children.

Sweeney continued in ministry as a priest for approximately 16 years after abusing the victim and was in contact with children on a regular basis.

He was assigned to various parishes during his tenure as a priest in the Diocese of Greenburg, including:

Associate Pastor, Holy Family Church, Latrobe (starting 1970)

Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg (1975)

Pastor, St. Hedwig Church, Smock, (1980)

Pastor, St. Mary, Freeport, (1982)

Pastor, St. Margaret Mary, Lower Burrell, (1985)

Pastor, St. James Parish, Apollo, (1998)

Pastor, Holy Family Parish, West Newton, (2008)

Anyone with information about sexual abuse by Sweeney or any priest is encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General's Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-888-538-8541.

The investigation into sexual abuse by priests is ongoing.

Shapiro noted the failed attempts at reforming the state's criminal statute of limitations for crimes against children.

"It is time to reform these arbitrary timeframes and to seek justice for our children," Shapiro said. "This victim, all victims, are entitled to justice."