February 15, 2005

Defrocked Priest Gets 12-15 Years For Child Rape, Assault

BOSTON (MA)
TheBostonChannel.com

M.R.F. Buckley, Staff Writer

POSTED: 10:32 am EST February 15, 2005
UPDATED: 11:24 am EST February 15, 2005

BOSTON -- Defrocked Catholic priest Paul Shanley, 74, was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison on two counts of rape of child Tuesday morning in Middlesex Superior Court, and was given 10 years probation for two counts of assault and battery on a child under 14.

Shanley was convicted Feb. 7 on two counts of rape of a child and two counts of assault and battery on a child. The prison terms are to run concurrently for the two rape convictions. If denied parole, Shanley would not be released from prison until he is close to 90 years old.

Shanley appeared in court in a conservative suit and tie and showed no emotion during the sentencing, which followed emotional statements from the man Shanley raped as a small boy and the victim's father and wife.

Calling Shanley a "sad, pathetic monster," who is also "evil," the victim -- whose name has not been released -- asked in a written statement that Shanley be given the harshest possbile sentence.

Posted by kshaw at February 15, 2005 10:28 AM