Co-Founder of Catholic Worker House in Half Moon Bay Pleads No Contest to Charges He Offered Money in Exchange for Sex to Poor Woman Seeking Help
California Catholic Daily
December 25, 2007
http://calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=e1370f58-bfdf-4928-aa94-075c9218310b
A Catholic Worker house in Half Moon Bay will continue to operate after its co-founder and current director pleaded no contest to charges of soliciting a woman for sex.
In October, a 35-year old woman filed a complaint with the San Mateo County district attorney, alleging that Michael David Niece, 65, who helped found the Coastside Catholic Worker in 2000, had offered her money if she would agree to have sex with him. The woman had approached Niece in August, asking him for help in finding a job to support her family. Niece reportedly replied to her, "Sure, I can help you find a job and I'll give you $500 to have sex."
 |
Police later monitored a phone call in which Niece repeated his offer to the woman. Police arrested Niece when he arrived at the place he had arranged to meet the woman during the call. Niece has been accused before of improper conduct with women.
On Oct. 16, Niece's attorney, William Johnston, appeared in court to enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client, who was on a pilgrimage to Italy with his wife. According to the Oct. 26 Catholic San Francisco, the San Francisco archdiocesan newspaper, Johnston complained that the "very minimal criminal offense" with which Niece was accused "doesn't warrant the kind of publicity and public approbation that this news frenzy is causing. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone. I'm not going to comment on guilt or innocence, but if any of the rest were similarly charged nobody would care."
On Dec. 7, Niece pleaded no contest in a Redwood City court to soliciting for prostitution. If he had been convicted in a trial on the misdemeanor charge, he could have faced six months in jail. But, under his plea deal, Niece will serve 10 days in jail and undergo HIV testing.
According to the Dec. 20 Half Moon Bay Review, the Coastside Catholic Worker will resume operations at its Magdalene House in Half Moon Bay. There it will continue its work, providing temporary housing for the homeless, aiding migrant workers as well as food distribution. Currently Niece's wife, Kathy, is still running the Half Moon Bay house while Michael Niece no longer resides there. Kathy Niece has said she plans to leave the house on Dec. 31.
Michelle Hansell, 27, will become the new director. A graduate of Sonoma State University, Hansell has been a member of the San Bruno Catholic Worker since 2003.
Larry Purcell of the Redwood Catholic Worker told the Palo Alto Daily News in October that he had encouraged the Nieces to establish the Catholic Worker in Half Moon Bay. "In my opinion, their work on the coast has been exemplary," Purcell said. "They have fed and clothed and sheltered and become one with the very poor. And I think they are respected by a lot of people over there because of their work."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.