Clean House

The state has rested its case in the sexual molestation trial of a former East Tennesse priest.

Shortly after the prosecution rested in the Bill Casey trial, the defense rested their case without calling any witnesses. 

Remember that the prosecution has the burden of evidence, i.e., presenting evidence to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Bill Casey molested a boy back in the 1970's while servng as a Catholic priest in Kingsport, TN.

What did the prosecution present to the jury?

Father David Boettner, Episcopal Vicor of the Knoxville Archdiocese and Deacon Sean Smith took the stand.  They spoke about a meeting where Casey admitted to sexual acts in 2010, and a written account of the alleged abuse written by Tucker and given to the Archdiocese

Warren Tucker claims that Bill Casey sexually molested him when  he attended Saint Dominic's Catholic Church in Kingsport.

So far . . . maybe.  The 2010 meeting is pretty damning.  But . . .

Warren Tucker, who now lives in Indiana, said Casey molested him as a youth, when Casey was a priest at Saint Dominic's Catholic Church.  He said the abuse took place in several locations in East Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Casey entered a guilty plea to the charges in McDowell County, North Carolina. 

I'm at a loss - any criminal law attorneys out there want to explain to me why plead not guilty in the Tennessee charges?  It would seem to me thatif you could cop a plea bargain and at least make sure your client - who is 76 years old - gets life in a minimum security facility and a guarantee that he won't see the inside of general population.

Casey's defense attorney, Rick Spivey, said prior to testimony that after 32 years of waiting, the charges are skeptical.

Really?  Good luck with that.  I have a hard time being convinced that Casey did it in North Carolina but not in Tennessee.  He is a pedophile.  He preyed on a young boy, regardless of how old the charges are.  And he brought shame on a noble vocation.  Maximum penalty.  Casey is also facing charges in Virginia - fuck him if he's going to plead not guilty there, too, because after confessing to the act, stop wasting the resources of the people.