William Lynch Not Guilty of Revenge Assault on ‘Sex Abuse Priest’

SAN JOSE (CA)
International Business Times

By Ewan Palmer | July 6, 2012

A man who admitted attacking a 67-year-old priest who allegedly abused him as a child has been found not guilty of assault and “elder abuse”.

William Lynch, 44, stood trial accused of assaulting Rev Jerold Lindner at a retirement home for priests in Los Gatos, California on May 2010.

Lindner sustained minor injuries.

Lynch had claimed that Lynch had sexually abused him and his younger brother on a camping trip more than 35 years ago.

Supporters of Lynch wept and hugged each other in court as the verdict was read out. The defendant and his attorneys received a rousing cheer as they left the courtroom.

“I honestly thought I was going to jail,” Lynch said. “It turned out better than I expected.”

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