SAN JOSE (CA)
ABC News
By TERRY COLLINS Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. July 6, 2012 (AP)
A jury acquitted a man Thursday of assaulting a priest he says molested him more than three decades ago during a camping trip and left him with tormented memories that led to alcohol abuse, depression and suicide attempts.
The verdict came after defendant William Lynch took the witness stand during the two-week trial and acknowledged punching Jerold Lindner several times on May 10, 2010.
While previously pleading not guilty, Lynch said he hoped to use the case to publicly shame Lindner and bring further attention to the Catholic Church clergy abuse scandal. Lynch said the verdict surprised him.
“I honestly thought I was going to jail,” he said after the verdicts were read. “It turned our better than I expected.”
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