PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Big Trial
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Ralph Cipriano
Ed Avery looked the prosecutor in the eye and said he didn’t do it.
He said he never touched the 10-year-old altar boy known as “Billy Doe.” The defrocked priest today rode a bus from the state prison up in Laurel Highlands, Somerset County, all the way to the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia, at least a four-hour trip, to tell a jury it was all a lie.
Avery said he only pleaded guilty because if convicted at last year’s first Archdiocese of Philadelphia sex abuse trial, he was facing a prison sentence of up to 20 years. And the prosecution was offering him a sweetheart deal — only 2 1/2 to 5 years in jail.
So on March 22, 2012, Avery pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child — namely Billy Doe — “to avoid a more lengthy prison term,” Avery said.
“I did not want to die in prison,” the 70-year-old former priest told an angry prosecutor.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Cipolletti was incredulous. “You’re sitting in state prison today because of [Billy Doe’s} allegations,” he said.
“I chose to take the plea,” Avery corrected him.
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