CALIFORNIA
Irish Central
Niall O’Dowd @niallodowd January 15, 2014
A criminal grand jury in California has indicted former Diocese of Stockton priest Father Michael Eugene Kelly, who fled to Ireland during a previous civil case he later lost.
An extradition warrant has been issued for Kelly’s arrest and deportation to the United States.The 63-year old cleric is a native of Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, where his family still lives and where he fled to after telling his bishop he did not believe he could get a fair hearing.
Kelly faces three counts of lewd conduct and oral copulation with a child and could be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Deputy District Attorney Dana Pfeil gave evidence following a sheriff’s investigation that Kelly began molesting his alleged victim when the child was 10 years old.
The District Attorney’s Office say they will work with the U.S. Department of Justice to extradite Kelly from Ireland to Calaveras County in California.
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