Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges against Priest

By Julie Manganis
Salem News
May 22, 2014

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x2117409915/Judge-denies-motion-to-dismiss-charges-against-priest

A Salem Superior Court judge has denied a motion to dismiss some of the charges against a retired Roman Catholic priest charged with molesting two boys decades ago at a summer camp run by the Salesian Brothers of Don Bosco in Ipswich.

The Rev. Richard McCormick, 73, is facing allegations of child rape involving two now-grown victims who attended the camp in the early 1980s.

Last month, McCormick’s attorney, Stephen Neyman, argued that the testimony from one of the two men to a grand jury was not specific enough to warrant an indictment on child rape.

The alleged victim told the grand jury that McCormick would have him sit on his lap, and he testified, “It hurt.”

That, Judge John Lu concluded, was sufficient for a grand jury to find probable cause.

Neyman also argued that another portion of the testimony concerning a different type of contact was too vague for the grand jury to conclude that a rape had occurred. Lu rejected that argument, as well. A trial is scheduled for Nov. 3.

McCormick is currently living at the Vlanney Renewal Center outside St. Louis, Mo., a facility for priests accused of or convicted of sexual abuse.

Courts reporter Julie Manganis can be reached at 978-338-2521, via email at jmanganis@salemnews.com or on Twitter @SNJulieManganis.