Lawyer: Priest will plead guilty to sex charges

[unhappycamper]

Lawyer: Priest will plead guilty to sex charges
By Andrew Tilghman and Chris Amos - Staff writers
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2007 5:37:37 EST

An HIV-positive Catholic Navy chaplain plans to plead guilty Thursday to charges involving sexual misconduct with an unspecified number of men, according to his attorney, who said the priest has known of his HIV status for more than two years.

The chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. John Thomas Matthew Lee, 42, is facing a general court-martial in Quantico, Va. He had been charged with sodomy, aggravated assault, indecent assault, fraternization and conduct unbecoming a military officer, according to a Marine Corps statement. His attorney, David Sheldon, said Lee will plead guilty to “many” of those charges, but would not say which. Three witnesses will testify Thursday, he said.

Marine officials refused to release Lee’s charge sheet, which typically would give the number of specifications, explain why he is being charged and how much jail time he faces if convicted.

Neither Sheldon nor the Corps offered any details regarding the victims in the case. Sources said the sexual partners in question are all men.

“He has entered into a pretrial agreement with the government that will substantially reduce his exposure to confinement,” said Sheldon, who added that Lee was facing life without parole if convicted on all charges. “He’s extremely remorseful about what happened and about his conduct, both as a chaplain and as an officer. He will take responsibility for what he has done.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/marine_chaplain_hiv_071204a/