Priest Pleads Not Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Woman

Associated Press
February 19, 2019

https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/priest-pleads-not-guilty-to-sexually-assaulting-woman/article_cf19269d-429d-5de9-89aa-2a653d6faf76.html

A May trial has been scheduled for a Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a woman in central Nebraska.

Valley County District Court records say the Rev. John Kakkuzhiyil entered a written plea of not guilty Monday to a charge of forcible sexual assault. His trial is set to begin May 6.

The woman who accused him has obtained a protection order against the cleric. She says he assaulted her in November when she went to his Ord home on business. She says she blacked out after having a couple of drinks with him.

The Grand Island Diocese says Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt placed Kakkuzhiyil on leave Dec. 15 upon learning that the Nebraska State Patrol was investigating the allegations.