Motions to dismiss charges against local priest accused of sexual assault denied

WNEM
August 06, 2018

http://www.wnem.com/story/38817501/local-priest-accused-of-sexual-assault-expected-in-court

A local priest facing accusations of sexual misconduct appeared in court Monday morning.

A judge heard several motions on Father Robert DeLand's case.

DeLand was arrested back in February on claims of assaulting two men - a then 21-year-old who said he was intoxicated when DeLand made sexual advances towards him, and a then 17-year-old who went undercover for police when he claimed assault.

In April, a judge found there was enough probable cause to move those separate cases to trial.

DeLand's attorney has called it a "clear case of entrapment."

On Monday, DeLand's attorney called for the charges to be dismissed on a number of grounds including religious discrimination and entrapment.

All motions to dismiss the charges against DeLand were denied.

The case will move forward as three separate trials.