February 08, 2005

Former Priest Found Guilty of Child Rape

CAMBRIDGE (MA)
Los Angeles Times

By Elizabeth Mehren, Times Staff Writer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass .— A jury Monday found defrocked priest Paul Shanley guilty of repeatedly raping a young boy at a Boston-area church during the 1980s.

The panel of seven men and five women deliberated for nearly 15 hours before convicting Shanley, 74, on two counts of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

One of the most notorious figures in the Boston clerical abuse scandal, Shanley showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered. He was immediately placed into custody, his $300,000 bail revoked. Judge Stephen Neel said Shanley would be sentenced Feb. 15. He could receive life in prison.

Posted by kshaw at February 8, 2005 07:02 AM