KENTUCKY
WAVE
By Janelle MacDonald
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – A pedophile priest convicted of crimes committed decades ago was sentenced to 15 years Thursday, but Father James Schook is still not behind bars.
Like so many things in this case, the reason for that all goes back to Father Schook’s health. It was a major issue in the delays getting him to trial, it came up as his attorneys argued for leniency during the sentencing phase Thursday and it will allow him to remain out of jail for the next six weeks even though he’s been convicted.
Schook, now convicted of molesting a boy back in the 1970s, walked into court Thursday not with sheriff’s deputies in handcuffs, but in street clothes, using the walker that helps him get around.
His attorney argued jurors should take the former priest’s health into account when handing down their sentence.
“Here’s the prescription list and here are the doctor appointments,” said David Lambertus.
Lambertus said Schook has terminal skin cancer, coronary artery disease and COPD.
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