Judge rejects priest’s motion to dismiss sex abuse charges

MISSOURI
Fulton Sun

By Don Norfleet

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Gerald James Howard, 67, a priest who may have worked as a counselor in Callaway County during the 1980s, remains in Cooper County Jail after a judge rejected a motion to dismiss charges against him.

Howard is facing a series of child sodomy and kidnapping charges in Cooper County. He will remain in Cooper County Jail with his bond set at $1.5 million.

On Thursday Cooper County Circuit Judge Robert L. Koffman denied a motion by Howard’s defense attorney to dismiss the charges against Howard, contending the statute of limitations prohibited prosecution.

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