Accused Priest James Schook Dying, Might Not Stand Trial

By Peter Smith
The Courier-Journal
June 14, 2012

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A Roman Catholic priest facing sodomy charges has terminal skin cancer, likely giving him only months to live and possibly preventing him from ever standing trial, a court document says.

That has raised concerns from a victim's advocacy group who fear they may never see justice for the two men who say the priest abused them when they were boys in the early 1970s.

The Rev. James Schook, 64, was scheduled to face trial in May, but Judge Mitch Perry postponed further hearings until December. Schook has been released pending his trial.

Jefferson County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Balliet, the prosecutor in the case, said at the time of the May hearing that he had a scheduling conflict because he was prosecuting another case at the same time.