PHOENIX (AZ)
News 12
February 7, 2020
By Bianca Blanco
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
Father John “Jack” Spaulding was indicted in January. His lawyer says days before the indictment, Spaulding was diagnosed with a “mortal illness.”
Father John “Jack” Spaulding was due in court for his arraignment.
But he did not show.
According to a motion filed by his lawyer, Greg Meell, the 74-year-old was diagnosed with a terminal illness just a few days before Spaulding’s indictment in January, so he was too sick to appear in court.
The document said Spaulding is weak and called attending Friday’s hearing a “threat” because of illnesses like the flu spreading around.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced in January that Spaulding was indicted and accused of sexually abusing at least two boys under the age of 15 between 2003 and 2007.
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