Ex-priest Schook convicted in sodomy case

The Courier-Journal
April 16, 2014

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2014/04/16/ex-priest-schook-convicted-sodomy-case/7794735/

A jury in Louisville has convicted a former Catholic priest of three counts of sodomy in a case stemming from the 1970s.

The Jefferson County Circuit Court jury also convicted 66-year-old James Schook on Wednesday of one count of indecent or immoral practice with another.

The jury is to return Thursday for sentencing.

Schook did not testify in the trial that began on Monday.

Richard Whitfield, now in his 50s, testified that he and Schook carried on a years-long sexual relationship that began when he was 13. The other alleged victim, Michael Stansbury, said he had one sexual encounter with Schook.

Schook's attorney challenged the witness accounts, saying they may not be able to accurately recall their ages and the dates of the alleged abuses.

Schook has been diagnosed with skin cancer and sought several delays to the trial.