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	Priest Fit for Trial, Doctor Finds Sylvestre Back in Court Friday By Trevor Wilhelm The Windsor Star [Canada] October 5, 2006 http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=f731acd7-80b8-4c55-87f6-48e0529d766c&k=60478 A court-appointed psychiatrist has determined pedophile priest Charles Sylvestre -- once known as Father Feeler in the parishes and school grounds of the London diocese -- is mentally fit to face justice for sexually abusing 47 girls. But that doesn't necessarily mean he will. "The victims were told the opinion of the psychiatrist is that Sylvestre is fit," said Chatham-Kent Crown attorney Paul Bailey. "It doesn't mean he has been found fit. "I don't know if there will be a fitness hearing." A court-appointed psychiatrist was asked last month to evaluate Sylvestre, 84, after his lawyer, Andrew Bradie, made the surprise revelation that his own psychiatrist had determined the retired priest was mentally unfit to face criminal proceedings. A court hearing would be required to officially find Sylvestre unfit. In August, the retired priest now living in Belle River pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 47 young girls over four decades at parishes across Southwestern Ontario, including Windsor. After Sylvestre's guilty pleas in August, 21 of the victims read impact statements. Court was scheduled Sept. 22 for the remaining victims to do the same. A psychologist's report based on interviews with 46 victims revealed Sylvestre was known as Father Feeler and Sylvestre the Molester among schoolkids in the diocese. Sentencing was set for Friday. But it all came to a halt in September when Bradie announced his intention to have Sylvestre deemed unfit. Such a ruling would mean court proceedings would stop and Sylvestre would go free, because the justice system doesn't allow the prosecution of someone who can't understand the process. Bailey said it's now up to Sylvestre's lawyer to decide if he still wants a fitness hearing. Bradie didn't return calls Wednesday. If Bradie does want that hearing, court will deal with the request Friday. If not, the court case would continue as if the issue was never raised, Bailey said. He wouldn't comment any further until Friday. But some of the victims, who said they've been kept up to date by the Crown's office, said Bailey will push to get Sylvestre sentenced Friday. Irene Deschenes said she was told that Tuesday by the Crown Attorney's Victim and Witness Services. She said Crown and defence lawyers agreed on a three-year sentence a number of months ago as part of a plea bargain. "Three short, short, short years," said Deschenes. Tecumseh's Mary Beth Studnicka, also contacted this week by Victim and Witness Services, said she was told the sentence was based partly on Sylvestre's life expectancy and health. Regardless of the length of the sentence, Studnicka said that if it happens, it will at least bring some closure after decades of torture and uncertainty. "I honestly didn't think it would happen," she said. "I thought he'd walk. It's like a dream come true. It's an answered prayer, an opportunity to move forward. I'll definitely be there Friday. It's a day I wouldn't miss, a day I've waited for for a long time. I hope it goes the way we're expecting it to." twilhelm@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5777, ext. 642
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