Retrial after mistrial set for accused priest
PROSECUTORS will get another opportunity to try the Rev. James J. Brennan, 49, a Roman Catholic priest charged with attempted rape of a 14-year-old boy in 1996 and related offenses.
PROSECUTORS will get another opportunity to try the Rev. James J. Brennan, 49, a Roman Catholic priest charged with attempted rape of a 14-year-old boy in 1996 and related offenses.
A mistrial was declared in June after the District Attorney's Office was unable to persuade a jury to reach a unanimous verdict that Brennan was guilty.
Common Pleas Judge Robert P. Coleman met Wednesday with Assistant District Attorneys Patrick Blessington and Mark Cipoletti and defense attorneys William J. Brennan Jr. and Richard J. Fuschino Jr. before setting March 6 as the new trial date.
Brennan was a co-defendant in a trial earlier this year with Monsignor William J. Lynn, 61, the former secretary for clergy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The jury found Lynn - whose job included investigating allegations of misconduct by priests - guilty of one count of child endangerment, involving a priest who was allowed to live in a Northeast Philadelphia rectory where he later molested a 10-year-old altar boy.
Lynn, who is appealing his conviction and sentence, is serving three to six years in state prison.
- Michael Hinkelman
We invite you to comment on this story by clicking here. Comments will be moderated.