SALINAS (CA)
KSBW
POSTED: 4:09 pm PST January 12, 2006
UPDATED: 5:11 pm PST January 12, 2006
SALINAS, Calif. -- A Salinas pastor accused of molesting young girls could be close to reaching a plea bargain.
Donald Domelle, 65, a pastor at the Salinas Baptist Temple is accused of molesting two young girls. Prosecutors have filed more than 60 charges against him. And on Thursday, both sides announced they are hoping to settle the case before it goes to trial.
Domelle was arrested last month after a 16-year-old parishioner of his church accused him of sexually molesting her. Just last week, prosecutors charged him with molesting another girl.
Outside the courtroom Thursday, the prosecution and defense said they were looking to avoid a trial.
"All of these counts could potentially expose the defendant to hundreds of years if he were to be convicted on all the counts," said defense attorney John Coniglio.
Posted by kshaw at January 13, 2006 08:24 AM