Psychiatric Evaluation Will Determine If Louisville Priest Is Competent to Stand Trial

By Valerie Chinn
The Wdrb
July 10, 2013

http://www.wdrb.com/story/22807028/psychiatric-evaluation-will-determine-if-louisville-priest-is-competant-to-stand-trial

[with video]

Louisville, KY (WDRB) -- Is a Louisville priest competent to stand trial? That's the question both the defense and prosecution are hoping to get answered soon in the Father James Schook case.

Two boys who are now grown men say they were abused by Schook in the early 1970s.  In 2011, he was charged with seven counts of sodomy.

Schook was supposed to be evaluated at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center, but the prosecution says because the facility didn't think it could handle his medical needs, their doctors will now evaluate him at Atria Senior Living in St. Matthews, where is he currently staying.

The defense says Schook has terminal skin cancer and those records are now being looked at, as well.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Balliet says, "We are actually trying to get the best information we can get regarding his competency to stand trial or his incompetency to stand trial and we're going to abide by the recommendations that are made and even after the recommendations, it will still be up to a judge to decide."