SAN JOSE (CA)
KGO
Karina Rusk
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — In the South Bay, the jury now has the case of a man accused of beating a priest he says sexually abused him years ago. William Lynch is accused of assaulting Father Jerold Lindner in Los Gatos on May 10, 2010. The prosecution says the alleged sexual abuse of Lynch in 1975 doesn’t factor into the assault in 2010.
Prosecutors told the jury that the facts and the injuries to Lindner prove their felony case. The defense told the jury that the half-inch cut above the priest’s eye and the bruising to his face were a misdemeanor assault at best.
Deputy District Attorney Vicki Gemetti told the jury that two wrongs don’t make a right and that they must find Lynch guilty of assaulting Lindner. Prosecutors say the evidence proves felony assault capable of producing great bodily harm and a felony charge of elder abuse since the former priest was 65-years-old at the time of the confrontation.
Lynch’s defense attorney fought hard to tell the jury they were the last line of defense to stop what he called an overzealous prosecution. “He’s trying to tell the jury you can decide not guilty here. You can decide not guilty on all charges. You can decide not guilty on the greater charges and guilty on the lesser charges,” Lynch supporter Christina Smith said.
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