ST. LOUIS (MO)
The Kansas City Star
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - A defrocked priest whose sexual misconduct conviction was thrown out wants to stay behind bars for fear he will be a "sitting duck" to vigilantes, his lawyer said Tuesday.
The Missouri Supreme Court last Friday ordered James Beine freed after tossing out his conviction on charges he exposed himself to boys in an elementary school restroom. The court ruled Missouri's sexual misconduct law is too broad.
Prosecutors plan to challenge the ruling. In the meantime, Beine, 63, can leave prison under house arrest.
But "he's afraid now there could be a lot of people out there who believe it's their duty to take some action," said his attorney Larry Fleming. "He worries that the condition of his bond is home confinement, and that would make him a sitting duck."
Posted by kshaw at May 10, 2005 05:55 PM