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hue

(4,949 posts) Thu Jul 5, 2012, 09:21 PM Jul 2012

William Lynch Found Not Guilty in Beating of Priest He Said Sexually Abused Him [View all]

Source: abc News

William Lynch, the 44-year-old California man who admitted he pummeled a Jesuit priest who he said abused him as a boy, has been found not guilty of felony assault and elder abuse charges.

The jury of nine men and three women could not reach a verdict on a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault for the 2010 attack at a retirement home, deadlocking 8-4 to convict him.

Lynch could have faced four years in jail if convicted on all the charges.

"I honestly thought I was going to jail," Lynch said after the verdicts were read, according to The Associated Press. "It turned our better than I expected."

The jurors began deliberations late Monday after hearing impassioned closing arguments from both sides.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/william-lynch-acquitted-beating-priest-abused/story?id=16706803#.T_Y9ApGTV8E

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William Lynch Found Not Guilty in Beating of Priest He Said Sexually Abused Him [View all] hue Jul 2012 OP

"Two wrongs don't make a right," she said in her closing arguments on Monday. bluestateguy Jul 2012 #1

It is barbaric, I know... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #36

What about three or more wrongs? Because Lynch was just the last in line of a whole lot of wrongs IndyJones Jul 2012 #66

I am betting Jerry Lindner never expected that siligut Jul 2012 #2

Clearly, there are times when violence is the answer. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #3

I don't believe violence is the answer for any rational person DearAbby Jul 2012 #5

Never? What about WW II? AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #12

Sometimes it is snooper2 Jul 2012 #25

And to add even more humiliation... -..__... Jul 2012 #30

You remeber your words if Romeny gets elected and the middle class Katashi_itto Jul 2012 #80

More appropriately, there are times when our jury system mzmolly Jul 2012 #17

True. Every once in a while. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #20

Violence? So he got in some open hand slaps, compared to what! xtraxritical Jul 2012 #24

What specific outcome which could not be achieved in any other way except through violence... LanternWaste Jul 2012 #69

Satisfaction to the victim from a sense of justice delivered to the perpetrator. A vicarious sense AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #70

It still was wrong. Archae Jul 2012 #4

I am thinking it felt real good to Lynch though. nt siligut Jul 2012 #7

It was not a planned assault. mzmolly Jul 2012 #18

Yeah that's the ticket, leave it to the felons to beat the crap out of him. MichiganVote Jul 2012 #23

There are a few people who I would beat to a pulp if I knew I could get away with it Kolesar Jul 2012 #6

It's possible to read this story and feel justice has and has not been done here. Brickbat Jul 2012 #8

I feel for the victim of child abuse. But you can't let people take the law into their own hands Bucky Jul 2012 #9

Then maybe there should be some justice b4 they have to. n/t jtuck004 Jul 2012 #13

Fact is, if that priest's superiors had done the right things decades ago, that wouldn't have IndyJones Jul 2012 #65

Yup. n/t jtuck004 Jul 2012 #71

you can't let people take the law into their own hands? Sure you can. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #15

Well said. Add to your list the lose of legitimacy of the Supreme Court when kiranon Jul 2012 #40

Not to mention police officers who are liars and violent thugs KansDem Jul 2012 #58

The jury system is the perfect mzmolly Jul 2012 #19

No, bucky. tru Jul 2012 #26

I don't think the point is that justice was served. antigone382 Jul 2012 #38

Like how the RCC took justice into their own hands by covering up and moving predators from parish IndyJones Jul 2012 #67

I don't like violence at all BUT in this case TBF Jul 2012 #10

No one can pay for the permanent violation of a child. hue Jul 2012 #11

Good for you Lynch. n/t jtuck004 Jul 2012 #14

I don't believe this... Archae Jul 2012 #16

Lynch and his brother both have "memories" mzmolly Jul 2012 #21

The article says that the defendant denied molesting the two brothers Art_from_Ark Jul 2012 #29

Yes, the defendant (victim in the assault case) denied it. That's often the case. The prosecution mzmolly Jul 2012 #41

I meant to say the priest denied it. He was not the defendant in this particular suit. Art_from_Ark Jul 2012 #48

If the prosectuion had denied it, I imagine mzmolly Jul 2012 #52

article also says Lynch got nearly $700,000 in settlement for this in 1997 wordpix Jul 2012 #57

Archae tru Jul 2012 #27

That's what I'm thinking Art_from_Ark Jul 2012 #28

I would wonder about that too. Is it a good thing that someone can assault someone on the basis of a Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #37

There is a sick and long history of abuse associated with the priest. FedUpWithIt All Jul 2012 #33

It sure sounds like "Father Jerry" was really a jerk. To put it mildly. Archae Jul 2012 #34

you are so incredibly off base that it barely merits a response.. frylock Jul 2012 #43

It's not a question of "Is it as bad." Archae Jul 2012 #44

It was determined that it was NOT vigilantism FedUpWithIt All Jul 2012 #55

I never claimed he should have the right to beat anyone up. FedUpWithIt All Jul 2012 #54

If he goes to jail... sendero Jul 2012 #59

You're right christx30 Jul 2012 #68

I'm glad he isn't going to jail Marrah_G Jul 2012 #22

Did anyone shed a tear when Father Geoghan was murdered in prison? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2012 #31

This ruling and the viewpoints of some here that it was ok to assualt the guy cause me concern. cstanleytech Jul 2012 #32

My point exactly. Archae Jul 2012 #35

Actually, the waterboarding at Gitmo was conducted by the government. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #39

I don't know that anyone supports the assault, from a legal standpoint. mzmolly Jul 2012 #42

Scroll up then as there are plenty to pick from, take the one where cstanleytech Jul 2012 #45

I took some of the commentary mzmolly Jul 2012 #46

If an assailant can avoid jail time melissaf Jul 2012 #47

I don't think it's that simple. mzmolly Jul 2012 #51

No argument if it happened it was horrible but the point is people are being hypocrites. cstanleytech Jul 2012 #49

I think there is an distiction to be made mzmolly Jul 2012 #50

If it was a case of self defense I would agree but it wasnt self defense cstanleytech Jul 2012 #53

It was the only form of justice mzmolly Jul 2012 #60

Sorry but I dont buy that sugar coating of it being "justice" in any shape or form and cstanleytech Jul 2012 #61

What should have happened to the man who mzmolly Jul 2012 #62

The statute of limitations already covers that unless of course if you meant cstanleytech Jul 2012 #64

No it's not moot at this point. mzmolly Jul 2012 #72

Its moot as far as the law is concerned, if you want to abolish the statute of limitations cstanleytech Jul 2012 #73

The "law" ultimately found the mzmolly Jul 2012 #75

No, I am trying to get it through your head that just because you believe it is justice does not cstanleytech Jul 2012 #76

Oh don't worry about me. mzmolly Jul 2012 #77

Actually thats not the law that spoke but rather the jury cstanleytech Jul 2012 #78

The jury is part of our legal mzmolly Jul 2012 #79

Not vigilatism. PTSD response. Very large difference between the two. FedUpWithIt All Jul 2012 #56

Well mzmolly Jul 2012 #63

Ahem alcibiades_mystery Jul 2012 #74