January 28, 2006

Alleged abuse victim testifies against former L.A. priest

LOS ANGELES (CA)
Union-Tribune

By Linda Deutsch
ASSOCIATED PRESS

6:38 p.m. January 27, 2006

LOS ANGELES – A young man who was allegedly molested by ex-priest Michael Wempe testified Friday about two instances of abuse, declaring “I hate Wempe!” and bursting into tears on the witness stand.

The 26-year-old, identified in court as Jayson B., cried and sighed intermittently for over an hour as he related his feelings and detailed the alleged abuse.

“Why do you hate him?” asked Deputy District Attorney Todd Hicks.

“He used his relationship with our family and the trust we had in him and my vulnerability to abuse me,” said the witness.

Jayson was preceded to the stand by his older brother, Mark.

Posted by kshaw at January 28, 2006 08:41 AM