WASHINGTON (AP) - A Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing two children and a woman involved in his Washington, D.C., parish wants the cases to be tried separately.
WTOP-FM reports that Urbano Vazquez’s lawyer says a single trial would be unfair. Attorney Robert Bonsib says that if jurors hear about the alleged child abuse, they may assume his client is guilty of assaulting the woman.
Vazquez was arrested in December on charges including sexual abuse of two girls and a 33-year-old woman. He was removed from his position at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a large and predominantly Latino parish.
He rejected a plea deal that would’ve had him admit to lesser charges and face up to 11 years in prison. His lawyer says Vazquez will plead not guilty Friday.
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Information from: WTOP-FM, http://www.wtop.com
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