AUSTRALIA
The Dallas Morning News
By Reese Dunklin
rdunklin@dallasnews.com
11:58 am on May 28, 2014
One of the most notorious figures from our 2004-2005 investigation about global transfers of predatory Catholic priests has been sentenced to 10½ years in jail.
The judge choked up during a hearing Monday in Melbourne, Australia, while describing Frank Klep’s “vile” sex crimes and “devastating” impact on abuse victims. According to news reports, the judge left the courtroom to compose himself.
“You’ve ruined lives and the ripple effect has touched every aspect of these young boys, and their families as well,” Judge Frank Gucciardo was quoted as telling Klep.
“There is no doubt,” the judge added, “your conduct plummets the depth of evil hypocrisy.”
Klep pleaded guilty late last year to sex-abuse charges involving 15 victims. He struck a deal with prosecutors to reduce the number of charges by half.
During a pre-sentencing hearing last month, he apologized to victims, saying: “I abused your trust and betrayed you in the most appalling circumstances.” Some of the now-grown victims watching in the courtroom walked out.
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