BALTIMORE (MD)
Herald-Tribune
By BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE -- The detective who first investigated sexual abuse claims against a now-defrocked priest testified Monday that he had reason to believe the accuser and found evidence others also had been victimized.
"I found him to be credible," Lt. Frederick Roussey said, describing his interview with Dontee Stokes after being assigned the case in August 1993.
Former priest Maurice Blackwell, who was shot and wounded by Stokes three years ago, is charged with four counts of child sex abuse. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in prison. Stokes served home detention for attacking Blackwell.
On Friday, Stokes, 29, vividly described the abuse he says he suffered at the hands of Blackwell, repeatedly telling jurors, "Mr. Blackwell did what I said he did to me."