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	Jury Seated in Child Sex Abuse Trial of Former Kingsport Priest Despite Delay Attempt By Kacie Breeding The Times-News July 11, 2011 http://www.timesnews.net/article/9033746/jury-seated-in-child-sex-abuse-trial-of-former-kingsport-priest-despite-delay-attempt An eight-man, six woman jury has been picked to hear the case of a former Kingsport priest accused of sexually abusing a boy more than 30 years ago. The panel was seated late Monday after an attempt to delay the trial based on the general public's disgruntled attitude toward jurors in the Casey Anthony case proved unsuccessful. William Casey, 78, 740 Shakerag Road, Greeneville, is being tried on first-degree sexual misconduct and two counts of aggravated rape in Sullivan County Criminal Court this week. The charges allege Casey began to sexually abuse a young altar boy shortly after becoming priest of St. Dominic's Catholic Church in the 1970s. The alleged victim, Warren Tucker, 46, of Jeffersonville, Ind., has said the alleged abuse occurred when he was between 10 and 15 years of age. At that time, his mother was romantically involved with Casey, he said. The earliest incident is alleged to have occurred in the church rectory between May 22, 1978, and May 20, 1979, when Tucker was 13 years of age. The second incident is also alleged to have happened in the rectory, between March of 1980 and mid-April of 1980, with Casey allegedly luring Tucker into his room with the promise of a gift, a "medallion" for his upcoming birthday. The third incident is alleged to have occurred at a trailer park during the same time frame as that charged in count two. Monday morning, Casey's lead counsel, Rick Spivey, argued for a continuance, citing a concern that the public's recent "vilification" of the jurors who acquitted Casey Anthony of murder might give jurors in this case pause to return a not guilty verdict for his client. Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge Robert Montgomery denied the request and jury selection began at approximately 9:30 a.m. Spivey brought up the Casey Anthony case again during that process, asking a group of prospective jurors if they knew the "terrible, terrible things" that have been said of the jurors who acquitted Anthony of murder. When they indicated they did, Spivey asked if they would, "have enough guts and enough common sense and enough courage," to acquit William Casey, "without hesitation" if the state fails to meet its burden of proof. They indicated they would. Sullivan County District Attorney Barry Staubus followed up by asking whether any prospective juror believed the Anthony case would have any effect on their verdict in this case. They indicated it would not, and the issue was put to rest. While no jurors were dismissed for any reason associated with the Casey Anthony case, more than two dozen jurors were excused for other reasons -- most for knowledge of the case or parties involved -- before a jury was picked at approximately 5 p.m. They were asked to return at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Casey has already pleaded guilty to similar offenses committed against Tucker in McDowell County, N.C., and he has additional charges pending in Scott County, Va., which also involve Tucker. By the time Tucker reported his allegations to authorities in April of 2010, Casey had retired from the Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville. He was subsequently suspended from the Catholic ministry pending completion of the laicization process. Casey was indicted on Aug. 31, 2010, and arrested the following month.
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