ARIZONA
KPHO
(AP) -- Friends of the former pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Community Church are trying to raise $100,000 within two weeks for his legal defense.
Monsignor Dale Fushek was arrested Nov. 21 and has pleaded innocent to 10 misdemeanor sexual misconduct charges and remains under house arrest in Phoenix. Fushek, 53, is a co-defendant in a civil lawsuit filed a year ago by an alleged victim in a separate incident.
Citing the urgent need for $100,000, supporters have distributed fliers noting that the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix would pay none of Fushek's legal costs "until he is found innocent." Diocesan attorney Michael Haran said Thursday the diocese would not cover any criminal defense costs, but it would pay civil trial costs if Fushek wins that case.