MESA (AZ)
East Valley Tribune
By Lawn Griffiths, Tribune
December 8, 2005
Saying he faces "complicated trials with potentially (a) large number of witnesses," Monsignor Dale Fushek is asking for a year to prepare his defense against 10 sexual misconduct charges.
Fushek, former pastor of St. Timothy’s Catholic Community in Mesa, was arrested Nov. 21 on accusations he molested seven men and boys on church property between 1984 and 1994. He has pleaded innocent to the misdemeanor charges.
His attorney, Michael Manning, filed a letter with Justice of the Peace Samuel Goodman of the South Mesa/ Gilbert Justice Court this week spelling out the requests.
Manning asked the judge to "sever" the complaints and order separate trials involving each male accuser so that Fushek would not suffer "copycat allegations."