By Sheila Sanchez
The Patch
December 19, 2011
http://losgatos.patch.com/articles/los-gatos-priest-beating-trial-set-for-feb-14
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A San Francisco man accused of beating a priest at the Los Gatos Sacred Heart Jesuit Center last year was scheduled to appear in court this morning for motions.
However, the Santa Clara County Superior Court in San Jose had to vacate today's hearing due to a scheduling conflict and has now reset the date for Jan. 4, said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Vicki Gemetti.
"They're pre-trial motions," Gemetti said about what will transpire early next year, adding that the trial for defendant William Lynch has been scheduled to begin Feb. 14.
Lynch, 44, is being represented by attorney Pat Harris, with the Los Angeles-based law firm of Geragos & Geragos.
He's been arraigned on one count of felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury and one count of elder abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death, Gemetti said
Authorities say he walked into the center's reception area the afternoon of May 10, 2010, asked to speak to Father Jerold Lindner. He said he had a death notification about a member of the priest's family and then allegedly assaulted him. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The case is being closely watched by critics of the Roman Catholic Church who allege Lindner raped and sodomized Lynch and his brother when they were small boys in the '70s while on camping trips.
If a jury convicts Lynch, he's could serve a maximum of four years in state prison. The court, however, could grant him probation and give him up to one year in county jail, Gemetti said.
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