KENTUCKY
WHAS
MEADE CO., Ky. (WHAS11) — An area Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing children goes before a judge.
Father Joseph Hemmerle appeared before a Meade County judge Thursday morning, Dec. 17, during a pretrial conference.
Hemmerle’s defense asked the judge to consider splitting the case in two so the priest could be tried separately over the allegations that date back to the ‘70s.
The prosecution argued that a single indictment was brought against Hemmerle because the victims’ complaints were similar in nature; all of them alleged the priest preyed on young boys.
The judge scheduled a final pretrial conference for 9 a.m. Jan. 7.
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