ARIZONA
The Arizona Republic
Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
May. 13, 2006 12:00 AM
A suspended Roman Catholic priest wants the sex charges against him dropped, with his attorney arguing that fading memories and the deaths of potential witnesses damage his defense.
The charges against Monsignor Dale Fushek, once among the most influential priests in the Diocese of Phoenix, stem from his relationships with teenage boys between 1985 and 1994.
Fushek faces trial June 2. He is fighting for both his reputation and his freedom, with some counts carrying a three month jail term and others six months in jail.
"By and large, the allegations in this case relate to incidents where there are no witnesses" beyond Fushek and his accusers, said Thomas Hoidal, one of Fushek's attorneys.