By AP/KWMu
St. Louis, MO – A judge Tuesday dismissed charges against a Catholic priest because charges were filed too late.
Father Thomas Graham was accused of sexually abusing a boy in the 1970s; an appeal is expected. The next court will have to decide whether the statute of limitations that was in effect in the 70s should apply in this case.
The 70-year-old Graham was charged last year with forcible sodomy, a felony. Defense lawyers say the statute of limitations in effect in the 1970s set a three-year deadline for charges. That's when the incident is alleged to have taken place.
Prosecutors say allegations are so serious that no passage of time should block their prosecution.