Jun 30, 2007 10:16 am US/Central
Report: Priest May Plead Guilty To Abusing Boys
Charges Against Rev. Daniel McCormack's Led To Scandal In Archdiocese
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Rev. Daniel McCormack (File)
CBS
Related Stories
-
Principal May Lose Post In Criticism Of Diocese (June 7, 2007)
(6/7/2007)
-
Priest Accused Of Molesting Boys Appears In Court (May 1, 2007)
(5/1/2007)
-
Will Chicago Priest Admit To Abuse Allegations (March 21, 2007)
(3/21/2007)
-
Source: Priest Accused Of Abuse May Plea Bargain (March 20, 2007)
(3/21/2007)
-
Panel: Archdiocese Still Needs Work In Abuse Cases (Feb. 22, 2007)
(2/22/2007)
-
Teacher Says Archdiocese Using Her In Abuse Case (Dec. 19, 2006)
(12/20/2006)
-
Documents Sealed For Priest Accused Of Abuse (Aug. 18, 2006)
(8/18/2006)
-
Priest Pleads Not Guilty To Two More Charges (June 8, 2006)
(6/9/2006)
-
Priest Indicted On Two Counts Of Sex Abuse (May 22, 2006)
(5/22/2006)
-
Mothers Of Alleged Abuse Victims Expand Lawsuit (May 11, 2006)
(5/11/2006)
-
Cardinal George Reacts To Latest Abuse Charges (May 8, 2006)
(5/8/2006)
-
Archdiocese Monitoring Priest During Alleged Abuse (May 8, 2006)
(5/8/2006)
-
Accused Priest Faces New Sex Abuse Charges (May 6, 2006)
(5/7/2006)
-
3 More "Possible Victims" Of Chicago Priest Abuse (April 26, 2006)
(4/26/2006)
-
Grand Jury Indicts Priest On Sex Abuse Charges (Feb 10, 2006)
(2/10/2006)
-
Priest Denied Contact With Young Family Members (Jan 23, 2006)
(1/23/2006)
-
Sex Allegations Against Priest Began Last Year (Jan 23, 2006)
(1/23/2006)
-
Prosecutors Charge Priest With Sexual Abuse (Jan 21, 2006)
(1/21/2006)
The Rev. Daniel McCormack, whose alleged abuse of boys rocked the Archdiocese of Chicago, is expected to plead guilty to five felonies Monday, sources said.
Under the terms of the deal, McCormack, 38, will plead guilty to five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and likely receive a five-year prison term, the sources said. The plea agreement must be approved by Judge Thomas Sumner, who has indicated he will accept it, according to sources.
McCormack could have faced up to seven years in prison. With credit for good behavior, McCormack could serve as little as 2 1/2 years.
"I don't think it's an overly harsh sentence, but I don't think it's a laydown," said Steve Greenberg, a defense lawyer not involved in the case. "Two years for this guy in jail is not going to be easy. They don't want to put the kids through the trauma of a trial."
An attorney for McCormack declined to comment, as did prosecutors handling the case. Negotiations have been going on since March.
McCormack was charged in January 2006 with abusing boys at St. Agatha Parish and Our Lady of the Westside School, at 3147 W. Douglas Blvd. The priest taught and coached basketball.
At first, the allegations concerned two victims, ages 8 and 9, whom McCormack was accused of abusing between September 2001 and January 2005. Three more victims came forward, leading to additional charges.
Prosecutors alleged one of the victims was abused on a daily basis between September 2005 and January 2006. That abuse allegedly happened at Presentation School, at 3900 W. Lexington St. in the city's North Lawndale neighborhood, where McCormack also taught and coached basketball.
While the archdiocese said it was aware of a dozen or more allegations, prosecutors have not found sufficient evidence to bring further charges.
The case unleashed a barrage of criticism at Cardinal Francis George, including calls for his resignation. The scandal gained force after it emerged that the archdiocese knew of allegations against McCormack and had assigned a church official to monitor him. The abuse allegedly continued.
Francis Cardinal George has conceded that the Archdiocese did not take action soon enough against McCormack.
McCormack allegedly abused at least two of the victims inside the rectory of St. Agatha. The archdiocese removed him from the parish after he was charged.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
SLIDESHOW: Torrential Storms Flood Chicago
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
