‘It’s painful’: Why didn’t a former Valley priest accused of sexual abuse appear in court?

PHOENIX (AZ)
12 News

February 7, 2020

By Bianca Buono

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/lawyer-says-former-valley-priest-accused-of-sexual-abuse-is-too-sick-to-go-to-court/75-793b4080-3bca-4036-8461-0cf157e64002

John “Jack” Spaulding was indicted in January. His lawyer says days before the indictment, Spaulding was diagnosed with a “mortal illness.”

A former Valley priest accused of molesting multiple children did not appear in court on Friday morning.

In January, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced that Father John “Jack” Spaulding was indicted and accused of sexually abusing at least two boys under the age of 15 between 2003 and 2007.

Spaulding was due in court Friday for his arraignment. He did not show up. But families of victims, clergy, and Bishop Thomas Olmsted did.

It was an emotional morning for those like Katy Soukup.

“It’s painful and it’s hurtful,” Soukup said.

According to a lawsuit, her brother, David, was sexually abused by Spaulding in the 1980s. After turning to drugs and crime to cope with his trauma, David’s father shot and killed him in self-defense in 2010.

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