A former priest will face court charged with sexually assaulting a teenager 40 years ago in northern NSW.
A year ago detectives from Richmond Police District began investigating reports a boy, then aged 14, had been sexually abused at a church property in Mallanganee - about 40 kilometres west of Casino - in 1982.
Police said a 74-year-old man was arrested at Casino Police Station on Tuesday and was charged with sexual assaulting and indecently assaulting a person under 16.
They will allege the former priest invited the boy to his house before sexually assaulting him.
The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Kyogle Local Court on Thursday.
