Man Acquitted of Assaulting Former Priest He Alleges Abused Him As a Child

By Brian Shields
KRON
July 5, 2012

http://www.kron4.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4473


A jury has acquitted William Lynch of all felony charges in the attack on a priest he says molested him as a child.

A jury deliberated for two days before returning the verdict.

Lynch admitted attacking Father Jerold Lindner during his testimony in the case. The defendant says the former Catholic priest molested him and his little brother during a visit to a camp over Memorial Day weekend in 1974.

Prosecutors had charged Lynch with two felonies including assault and elder abuse. The attack on Lindner happened at a Los Gatos nursing home where the former priest was living. The jury couldn't agree on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault in the case.

Lindner at first testified in the case denying he had abused Lynch but later took the Fifth and his testimony was stricken from the record.

Lynch's supporters, including others who say they were the victims of priest abuse, picketed the courthouse throughout the trial.

Stay tuned to KRON 4 and KRON4.com for reaction to this developing story.