By Tracey Kaplan
Mercury News
December 7, 2010
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16799841?nclick_check=1
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| Will Lynch, left, stands by his attorney Pat Harris, right, as Harris talks to... ( Dai Sugano ) |
Determined to "out" the Jesuit priest he claims molested him, the man charged with the revenge beating of the cleric pleaded not guilty Tuesday, a move that brings the case closer to what is sure to be a highly publicized trial.
Will Lynch, 44, clad in a navy blue suit, entered his plea in a decisive voice to one count of felony assault. His lawyer, Pat Harris, said outside the courtroom that Lynch is ready to testify about the alleged attack in May on the Rev. Jerome Lindner at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
"The plan is to go to trial," Harris said.
Harris expressed confidence that he will be able to introduce evidence of Lindner's alleged sexual assaults on Lynch and his brother in court, despite any effort by the prosecution to rule it out.
"That's something we will bring in," he said.
Deputy District Attorney Vicki Gemetti declined to discuss what evidence the jury will hear, saying only: "I don't want to affect any potential jurors. "... It is ultimately up to the judge to decide."
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| Will Lynch, left, stands by his attorney Pat Harris as Harris talks to the media... ( Dai Sugano ) |
Lynch's preliminary hearing, a key step toward trial, was set for Feb. 7.
Lindner could never be prosecuted because the alleged molestation took place in the 1970s. By the time Lynch reported it about 20 years later, the six-year statute of limitations in effect at the time of the incident had elapsed.
Lynch and his brother, who were 7 and 5 at the time of the alleged abuse, have said they were raped and forced to have oral sex with each other during camping trips to Portola State Park while Lindner -- a spiritual adviser at the Christian camp -- looked on. Lindner has been accused of abuse by nearly a dozen people, including his own sister and brother.
Lynch and his brother sued in 1997 and received a $625,000 settlement from the Jesuits.
Witnesses at Sacred Heart in Los Gatos told sheriff's deputies they heard the attacker yell repeatedly, "You molested me and my brother," and "Turn yourself in." Lindner suffered multiple bruises and required seven stitches to close a cut above his left eye, according to court documents.
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| Will Lynch, left, and his attorney Pat Harris, right, leave from Santa Clara... ( Dai Sugano ) |
The priest told investigators he never molested Lynch and said the man could have chosen him at random after seeing his brother's website, according to police reports in the court file. Lindner said the website accuses him of having molested his brother's son, according to the documents.
Contact Tracey Kaplan at 408-278-3482.
Contact: tkaplan@mercurynews.com
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