BishopAccountability.org
	Accused Priest Seeks Year to Ready Defense By Lawn Griffiths East Valley Tribune [Mesa AZ] December 8, 2005 Saying he faces "complicated trials with potentially (a) large number of witnesses," Monsignor Dale Fushek is asking for a year to prepare his defense against 10 sexual misconduct charges. Fushek, former pastor of St. Timothy's Catholic Community in Mesa, was arrested Nov. 21 on accusations he molested seven men and boys on church property between 1984 and 1994. He has pleaded innocent to the misdemeanor charges. His attorney, Michael Manning, filed a letter with Justice of the Peace Samuel Goodman of the South Mesa/ Gilbert Justice Court this week spelling out the requests. Manning asked the judge to "sever" the complaints and order separate trials involving each male accuser so that Fushek would not suffer "copycat allegations." Manning also asked Goodman to declare it an "extraordinary case" because it could require considerable investigation for the defense. He asked the judge to set the trial date a year from now. Manning also said Fushek needed a delay to hire "outside counsel specializing in criminal defense litigation." The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix has said it will not pay for his defense. Goodman has told Manning that he must formally file "appropriate motions" for his requests. Bill FitzGerald, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said a pre-trial conference has been set for Jan. 18. The one-time vicargeneral of the diocese is confined to his Phoenix home with electronic monitoring.