Opening Arguments in Clergy Sex Abuse Trial Begin Today

By Ross Farrow
Lodi News-Sentinel
February 24, 2012

http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_4c40e774-5e99-11e1-a73d-001871e3ce6c.html

Opening arguments in the sexual abuse lawsuit against Lockeford priest Michael Kelly will begin at 10 a.m. today in Department 42 at San Joaquin County Superior Court, 222 E. Weber Ave., fourth floor, Stockton.

Kelly, priest at Lockeford's St. Joachim's Catholic Church, is accused by an unnamed plaintiff of sexually assaulting him during the 1980s, when Kelly served at Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton. Kelly has not been charged criminally.

Kelly's attorney, Thomas Beatty, said he estimates that the civil trial will take three to six weeks. Jury selection was completed on Thursday, Beatty said. After today, testimony will begin on Wednesday.