BALTIMORE (AP) - A judge refused yesterday to dismiss child sexual-abuse charges against a priest accused of molesting a parishioner who later shot him three times in the street with a .357 Magnum handgun.
Circuit Judge John Glynn’s decision means the Rev. Maurice Blackwell will go to trial on four counts of child sexual abuse, and the man who was acquitted of trying to kill the cleric likely will testify against him.
Judge Glynn rejected defense arguments that the statute of limitations had expired and that Father Blackwell’s rights to due process were violated by the length of time between the incidents and when he was charged more than a decade later.
Father Blackwell was charged with molesting Mr. Stokes, 28, beginning in 1989 and ending in 1992. But he was not indicted until 2003, after Mr. Stokes attacked him.
Mr. Stokes was acquitted of attempted murder in December 2002, but convicted on gun charges. He said he shot Father Blackwell after he tried to confront the priest, who refused to talk with him.
His attorney, Warren Brown, said yesterday he expected Mr. Stokes to testify at the trial.
Mr. Brown also said he didn’t think the priest would end up in prison. “Blackwell’s been shot and pilloried, and his name is Mudd in this city,” he said, predicting the judge would eventually decide “enough’s enough.”
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