Posted on 10/25/2005 8:49:51 AM PDT by Millee
Guilty pleas to two child sexual assaults by a 72-year-old former Episcopal priest were thrown out Monday by a Denver district court judge who criticized the handling of the case by the public defender's office.
Donald Shissler has been in prison since pleading guilty in 2001 to raping two boys in the Baker neighborhood.
He was originally charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, one count of sexual assault on a child -- pattern of abuse, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.
As part of Shissler's guilty plea, all but two counts were dismissed.
An arrest affidavit cited allegations that stemmed from events in 1991 involving two neighborhood boys. Police seized hundreds of pornographic pictures and videos from Shissler's house when he was arrested.
Shissler was an Episcopal priest for two years, last serving in Aspen in 1963.
The ruling by Judge Shelia Rappoport means that Shissler can have a new trial and could be freed on bail.
He was originally sentenced to 24 years to life in prison.
Judge Rappaport said the public defender's office never assigned an investigator to the case and didn't speak to any witnesses.
Oh, gosh, if only they'd let episcopalian priests marry, we wouldn't have this problem. You episcopals should drop your celibacy rule.
Judge Sheila Rappaport has a few screws loose.
The title should be:
"Homosexual Man Alludes Justice in Brutal Rape of Two Boys."
Should be "Elludes."
I think it should be "eludes".
Yes, and if the Episcopalian Church would stop their anti-gay agenda, there would be less rapes.
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