Plea bargain in Kentucky priest’s abuse case

March 23, 2010

A priest of the Diocese of Lexington will likely serve one year in prison following a plea agreement in an abuse case.

Two males allegedly abused in the 1980s “were willing to testify” against Father Joseph Muench, 59, “but they didn't want their identity to be made public,” said the local prosecutor. “These guys have had a lot of emotional problems; they've been in counseling; they've been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of this.”

“I was quite seriously concerned that we were going to reopen some old wounds and do more harm than good with these victims. But now we do have a conviction in a 24-year-old case in which the victims didn't wish to testify.”

 

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Further information:

• Former Lexington priest reaches plea agreement in sex-abuse case (Lexington Herald-Leader)
• Man alleging sex abuse sues diocese (Frankfort State Journal, 2009)