CA - Victims want pedophile jailed

• Court hearing is set for tomorrow
• Prosecutors try to keep priest locked up
• They’re using new “sexually violent predator” law
• Group wants LA’s current & former church heads to help
• Both Mahony and Gomez should write judge, SNAP feels

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will

--applaud prosecutors for trying to keep a notorious serial predator priest locked up, and

--urge the current and former heads of the LA Catholic archdiocese to write letters supporting the effort

They will also urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered Baker’s crimes to get help, call police, expose wrongdoing and protect kids.

WHEN

Friday, August 26 at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the Mental Health Courthouse, 1150 North San Fernando Rd. (off I-5 & the 110 freeway) Los Angeles, CA

WHO

Two-four clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY

Fr. Michael Stephen Baker’s time in prison – for molesting kids – is coming to an end, and on Friday, August 26 he will walk free. However, using a relatively new law, prosecutors are seeking to have him declared a “sexually violent predator” and kept behind bars indefinitely. Tracy Watson in the     DA’s office has confirmed that, as of last week, prosecutors have filed a petition to get Baker marked as a SVP.

SNAP is urging Cardinal Roger Mahony and Archbishop Jose Gomez – the former and current heads of the Los Angeles Catholic archdiocese – to write to secular officials and urge them to keep Baker locked up.

 The LA archdiocese admits at least 23 individuals have accused Baker of assaulting them. The initial criminal charges against him were dropped due to a Supreme Court ruling (called “Stogner”), but he was arrested and charged again in 2006. In December of 2007, he pleaded guilty to abusing two boys. Baker was sentenced to ten years and four months in prison.

Baker will be housed at the SVP unit until Friday at 9:30 am, when the Judge will hear and rule on the motions set before him, including a motion to dismiss filed by Baker’s attorney. The hearing will be in Room 95B at the Mental Health Courthouse, 1150 North San Fernando Rd. (off of I-5 &the 110 freeway) before June Elaine Mandel (323 226 8427).

He’s been sued several times for child sexual abuse. The most recent suit against him was filed in June of 2010.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/07_08/2007_07_15_Spano_660Million.htm