July 02, 2005

Md. Won't Retry Priest for Molestation

BALTIMORE
Washington Post

The Associated Press
Saturday, July 2, 2005; 6:27 AM

BALTIMORE -- The state won't retry a defrocked priest accused of molesting a boy who later shot him, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor said Friday.

Maurice Blackwell, 58, was convicted in February of abusing Dontee Stokes, a former parishioner who shot Blackwell in 2002, nearly a decade after the alleged abuse.

Two months later, Blackwell was granted a new trial by a judge who said testimony about other alleged victims was inappropriate.

Stokes, 29, was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted on gun charges in 2002. He was sentenced to 18 months on home detention.

Margaret T. Burns, a spokeswoman for state's attorney Patricia C. Jessamy, said the prosecutor "will not pursue the case against Maurice Blackwell." She declined to comment further, saying a statement would be released Saturday.

Posted by kshaw at July 2, 2005 07:29 AM