By Kacie Breeding
Kingsport Times News
July 23, 2011
http://www.timesnews.net/article/9034143/former-kingsport-priest-convicted-of-sexual-abuse-of-altar-boy-to-remain-jailed-until-sentencing
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| William Claude Casey |
A judge has declined to grant a bond for a former Kingsport priest jailed immediately following his conviction on first-degree sexual misconduct and two counts of aggravated rape last Thursday in Sullivan County Criminal Court.
Following a bond hearing Friday afternoon, Judge Robert Montgomery ruled William Casey, 77, 740 Shakerag Road, Greeneville, will remain incarcerated until an Aug. 22 sentencing. Casey's attorney, Rick Spivey, indicated he would likely appeal the decision, and also expressed an intent to file a motion for new trial.?
Casey's charges alleged he began to sexually abuse a young altar boy shortly after becoming priest of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Kingsport in the 1970s.?
Warren Tucker, now 46, testified Casey raped him twice — once when he was 13 and once when he was 14 — in the priest’s bedroom in the rectory basement, and performed oral sex on him in his mother’s trailer shortly before his 15th birthday, with Tucker saying he "felt obligated" to reciprocate the act. He described feeling powerless to resist a man he believed to be "representative of God on earth."?
After the jury returned its verdict last Thursday, Sullivan County District Attorney Barry Staubus called the case "one of the most emotionally draining" that he’s ever handled, but said he believed Tucker has finally been "vindicated" after 35 years.
In making his decision, Montgomery advised that applicable laws do not require him to revoke or set a bond for Casey, leaving the matter to his discretion.?
Casey is currently on probation for a conviction out of McDowell County, N.C. He also has been placed on electronic monitoring due to pending charges in Scott County, Va. Tucker is cited as the victim in those cases as well.?
The judge noted that applicable laws appear to prohibit him from considering probation or alternative sentencing for Casey in his court. He invited Spivey to research the issue and present any evidence to the contrary at the sentencing hearing.
The judge also pointed out that Scott County Commonwealth's Attorney Marcus McClung said Casey would be brought in for bond revocation there if he were to be released from the Sullivan County jail, according to an affidavit supplied by Staubus.
Before the hearing concluded, Montgomery advised it appears Casey will face a possible 10-year sentence on the first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge, and 15 years on each of the aggravated rape convictions. He said he did not believe 100 percent service would be required on any of the charges, and cited the possibility that Casey could be sentenced as a first-time offender, with a minimum of 30 percent service required.
He asked both sides to research the issues of minimum service requirements and the possibility of consecutive vs. concurrent sentencing before the Aug. 22 hearing.
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