ST. LOUIS (MO)
Post-Dispatch
By Robert Patrick
Of the Post-Dispatch
06/02/2005
James Beine, the former Roman Catholic priest and elementary school counselor whose sexual misconduct convictions were overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court, was released from prison Thursday.
After trading a prison jumpsuit for a business suit, Beine made a brief statement citing his faith in God, his family and friends. "I knew that time would tell," he said. "I never committed any of these crimes."
Steve Welby, one of Beine's lawyers, said that after 3 1/2 years behind bars, Beine "was a very happy man."
Missouri Department of Corrections officers dropped off Beine at Welby's office in downtown St. Louis at 2:30 p.m. Advertisement
Larry Fleming, another of Beine's lawyers, said a news conference is planned for next week "so that (Beine) can tell his side of the story." Fleming then drove Beine away. Neither Beine nor his lawyers would say where he plans to live. His home was in Highland when he was arrested in 2002.