Crime & Safety
April Trial Date Set for Man Charged With Beating Los Gatos Priest
William Lynch is also arraigned on one count of felony assault with the intent to cause great bodily injury in connection with the alleged beating of Father Jerold Lindner.
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge set an April 4 trial date Tuesday afternoon for a man accused of beating a priest at the Los Gatos Sacred Heart Jesuit Center last year.
William Lynch was also arraigned on one count of felony assault with the intent to cause great bodily injury in front of Judge Philip Pennypacker in Dept. 24 of the San Jose Hall of Justice.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Vicki Gemetti, who is prosecuting the case, said it's probably unlikely that the trial will begin on the set date.
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No pretrial motions are expected to be filed, Gemetti added.
If convicted of the charge, Lynch could face a maximum of four years in prison.
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Tuesday's arraignment follows Lynch's preliminary hearing earlier this month in which Judge David Cena found enough evidence for Lynch to stand trial and refused to lower the assault charge from a felony to a misdemeanour.
Gemetti alleges that Lynch beat up defrocked Jesuit priest Jerold Lindner on May 10, 2010. "This case is about the fact that there was an assault and a vicious attack on the victim," Gemetti said.
The prosecutor explained she's also added an elder abuse charge on the case.
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