TEXAS
The Dallas Morning News
07:44 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News
A former Catholic priest who sexually assaulted a man in an Irving hotel was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday under a law that imposes an automatic life term when convicted sex offenders re-offend.
John Salazar stood impassively as Judge Gary Stephens imposed his sentence. The judge then allowed the victim of the September 2003 assault to confront Mr. Salazar in the courtroom.
"Salazar's victims also suffer a life sentence ... to suffering and shame," Beau Villegas said while giving his victim impact statement.
Mr. Villegas addressed Mr. Salazar directly while talking about how the assault had affected his life. Mr. Salazar appeared to be taking notes during the statement and did not look up.
The Dallas Morning News does not normally publish the names of victims in sex-crime cases, but Mr. Villegas has asked that he be identified.
He wasn't Mr. Salazar's first victim. The automatic life sentence was imposed because he had already been to prison in California for molesting two boys in the 1980s while working as a priest.
He was still on parole when hired by the Catholic diocese in Amarillo and assigned to a small church in Tulia, Texas, in 1991. Some diocese officials were aware of at least some of Mr. Salazar's background, but parishioners were told nothing about the energetic young priest.