LOS ANGELES (CA)
Contra Costa Times
LINDA DEUTSCH
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The conviction of a retired Roman Catholic priest on one count of child molestation left four other charges unresolved. But legal experts believe there will be no second trial for Michael Wempe.
"I think the prosecution was looking for a symbolic victory and they got it," Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson said after jurors convicted Wempe on Wednesday of one count of child molestation and deadlocked on four others.
"Now they can walk away and say he didn't get away with it," added Levenson, a former federal prosecutor.
Defense attorney Steve Cron, who has handled other molestation cases, said he expects the district attorney's office to consult with the victim before deciding whether to seek a second trial on the unresolved charges. But he agreed with Levenson that the case is likely over.