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	Judge to Rule on Ex-Priest's Change of Venue Request By Ann McGlynn Quad-City Times April 22, 2009 http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_4e434aca-2fae-11de-bb27-001cc4c002e0.html A judge is expected to rule soon whether the perjury trial of ex-priest James Janssen will be moved from Scott County. Janssen, 85, is accused of lying to the court during his nephew's attempt to collect a $1.4 million civil judgment against Janssen for sexual abuse. Janssen's attorney, Michael McCarthy, said during a hearing Wednesday there has been a "super-saturation" of adverse publicity about Janssen. He added that it was "hard to think of a person who's been more notorious around here." However, Scott County Attorney Mike Walton countered that he can think of a case with more notoriety, alluding to Pachino Hill, who is awaiting trial on vehicular homicide charges. Walton did not fight a change of venue request for Hill. Walton is contesting the request that Janssen's trial be moved. The ex-priest, he said, will not be referred to as Father, and the issue of sex abuse will not be raised, Walton said. The evidence will focus on events surrounding the collection of the jury verdict. The publicity, Walton said, has not been so pervasive that attorneys would not be able to find potential jurors for Janssen's trial, which is set for May 18. According to court documents, Janssen lied in April 2006 when he testified under oath that he did not transfer assets to a family member in the 10 years preceding that date. He later admitted to transferring assets, including more than $700,000 in bonds to his sister, Dorothy. In July 2007, Janssen lied on his application for a court-appointed attorney on an accusation of contempt of court, documents say. He did not disclose ownership of and income from an annuity or that he had access to money with his sister to pay his expenses. And in October 2007, officials said, he falsely testified under oath that he did not know about $80,000 in savings bonds. He later produced a list of bonds and admitted they were given as gifts to friends and family. Janssen was jailed last year for contempt of court for failing to produce his assets. He was removed from the priesthood in 2004 by Pope John Paul II. Believed to be the first-ever Davenport priest to be defrocked, Janssen was ordained in 1948. Janssen was a defendant in several civil suits alleging sex abuse, including the one filed by nephew James Wells. The others were dismissed after the victims reached settlements with the diocese.
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