STOCKTON (CA)
Lodi News-Sentinel
By Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel Staff Writer
STOCKTON — The 37-year-old man suing popular Lockeford priest Michael Kelly told a jury Thursday that Kelly sexually assaulted him at least twice while babysitting him and his younger sister.
The plaintiff, who claims his memory of the alleged sexual abuse came back to him about January 2006, will continue his testimony on Friday morning. Cross-examination by attorneys for Kelly and the Stockton Diocese will follow, probably on Friday.
Kelly, pastor of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Lockeford since 2004, will not be allowed to answer the allegations against him until the plaintiff’s side finishes its case. It will be next week or even later before Kelly takes the witness stand.
On the first episode, the plaintiff testified, Kelly was babysitting him and his sister at their home in Stockton. The plaintiff was a fifth-grader at the time. While the sister was in another room, he testified, Kelly pulled down the pants portion of his pajamas while lying on the floor watching TV, touched and fondled him. When his parents returned home, the plaintiff testified, Kelly told them, “I didn’t expect you home so soon. Next time, stay out longer.”
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