February 22, 2006

Jury: Former LA priest guilty of one count of child molestation

LOS ANGELES (CA)
The Press-Enterprise

By LINDA DEUTSCH
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Retired Roman Catholic priest and admitted molester Michael Wempe was found guilty Wednesday of one count of child molestation after an emotionally wrenching trial that saw grown men testifying about their childhood abuse.

Only one victim was named in the current case and jurors were unable to reach verdicts on four counts, so a mistrial was declared on those.

Wempe, 66, who was immediately taken into custody, agreed to waive sentencing until the district attorney can decide whether to seek a retrial on the undecided counts.

He faces a sentence of 16 months to three years on the single count. He has already served a year in prison, so that time would be deducted. One of his attorneys said he was diabetic and had a heart condition, so likely would serve his time in a medical unit.

Posted by kshaw at February 22, 2006 05:33 PM