Surprise Witness in Mercure Testimony, WTEN, February 7, 2011

Surprise Witness in Mercure Testimony

WTEN
February 7, 2011

http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=13985880

[with video]

ALBANY, N.Y.-- A surprise witness took to the stand on Monday during the third day of the Gary Mercure testimony.

Prosecutors said Mercure, a former local priest accused of raping two boys, took children on trips from Glens Falls to Berkshire County to sexually assault them.

The victims of Mercure came forward in 2008, which is when District Attorney from Warren County Katie Hogan began investigating. She took to the stand on Monday unexpectedly.

"I personally phoned each of the jurisdictions where there was an allegation and we worked with the victims," said Hogan.

An expert from the New York State Forensic Lab and one of the victims former fiancees were also called to the stand.

The former Roman Catholic Priest is facing three counts of rape of a child with force and one count of indecent assault and battery of a child. Statue of limitations have run up in New York but not in Mass., where the case is being tried.