Prosecutors Drop Sex Assault Case Against Former Philadelphia Priest
By Dan Wing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia District Attorney's office announced Friday that they will not to retry a former Philadelphia priest accused of sexual assault.
After two juries failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Father Andrew McCormick in 12 months, the DA's office made the announcement saying it will no longer seek jail time for the 58-year-old priest. A gag order on all parties involved in the case remains in place until April 16th, but the attorney representing McCormick is expected to try to have that lifted early next week.
Father Andrew McCormick has served as priest since 1982. In 2012, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy at a Bridesburg parish in 1997. The alleged victim, who is now 27-years-old, testified at both trials, which both ended with the jury unable to reach a unanimous decision on any of the charges brought against McCormick.