Anatomy of William Lynch Trial

By Sheila Sanchez
The Patch
July 3, 2012

http://losgatos.patch.com/articles/anatomy-of-william-lynch-trial


The high-profile case of a San Francisco man accused of beating a priest at the Los Gatos Sacred Heart Jesuit Center began June 20. Defense attorneys Pat Harris and Paul Mones and Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Vicki Gemetti presented closing arguments Monday. A jury now deliberates the fate of William Lynch, 44, behind closed doors and a verdict is forthcoming. Lynch has been charged with one count of felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury and one count of elder abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. If found guilty, he faces up to four years in jail.

Wednesday, June 20: Jesuit priest Jerold Lindner, 67, takes the stand and denies raping and sodomizing William Lynch, the man accused of assaulting him on May 10, 2010. Defense attorneys Pat Harris and Paul Mones threaten to file perjury charges after prosecutor Vicki Gemetti in opening statements said Lindner had indeed molested him while on camping trips in the '70s and would lie about it on the stand. Retired center receptionist Carol Santos also testifies.

Thursday, June 21: Lindner returns to court during the morning session to be cross-examined by Lynch's defense attorneys, however, alleged sexual abuse victim Debbie Lukas confronts him as he was entering Department 34 of the San Jose Hall of Justice. Santa Clara County Judge David Cena, presiding over the case, abruptly stops the day's proceedings and excuses the jury. Cena explains attorneys have to work out legal issues related to the case. Jury excused until Monday, June 25.

Friday, June 22: After a two-hour closed door meeting between Cena, Mones, Harris and Gemetti, it's announced that defense attorneys have filed a mistrial motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct related to Gemetti's decision to put Lindner on the stand whom she told the jury had molested Lynch and would lie about it under oath.

?Monday, June 25: Judge Cena denies several mistrial motions by defense attorneys and orders Lindner's testimony stricken from the record. The priest's Fifth Amendment right is also granted, despite objections by the prosecution that Lindner attorney Joe Wall Jr.'s request is not valid.

Tuesday, June 26: The prosecution calls several witnesses to the stand, including Jim Cook, a wireless communications expert who gave testimony about Lynch's cell phone calls to the center the day of the incident. Rural Metro emergency technician Jeremy Broce also testified about treating Lindner for his injuries. Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies Rick Chaeff and Jonathan Seaon also testify about finding Lindner bloodied, bruised and lacerated after the May 10, 2010 incident.

Wednesday, June 27: Retired Los Gatos Sacred Heart Jesuit Center health-care employee Mary Margaret Eden and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Elder testify they heard the defendant yell that Lindner had sexually abused him.

Thursday, June 28: Trial recesses.

Friday, June 29: In a highly emotional, disturbing and graphic testimony, Lynch recounts what he said was his rape and sodomy by Lindner while on camping trips in the mid '70s to Portola Redwoods States Park. He also admitted striking the priest on May 10, 2010. Prosecution rests its case.

Monday, July 2: Attorneys present closing arguments. Gemetti asks the jury to find Lynch guilty of one count of felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury and one count of elder abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death. Lynch has pleaded not guilty to both charges. If found guilty, he faces up to four years in jail. Prosecutor also portrays Lynch as a vigilante and defense attorneys claim Lynch's altercation with Lindner amount to misdemeanor simple assault and not the more serious charges filed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. Defense rests its case. Jury begins deliberations.