KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No electronic devices or cameras are allowed in the Jackson County Circuit Courtroom, but FOX 4’s John Pepitone is in the media room inside the courthouse and tweeting developments from there. Follow him on twitter: @JohnPepitone (Scroll down for the most recent posts.)
Finn and diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph accused of failing to report suspicions of child abuse.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Jackson County Judge John Torrence will preside over trial, which expected to last about one hour.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn reportedly knew about hundreds of lewd photos of children on Fr. Shawn Ratigan's computer and failed to report it in a timely fashion.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
If convicted Bishop Finn faces a maximum penalty of one year behind bars and/or a $1,000 fine on each charge.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Diocese faces maximum penalty of a $5,000fine on each of two charges.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
At issue: whether Bishop Finn is a mandated child abuse reporter under Mo. law and had a duty to report what he knew about Ratigan.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Bishop Finn is entering the courtroom now!
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
He's represented by prominent KC attorney J.R. Hobbs
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Jean Baker prosecuting for the state
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn's case will be taken up first. Charges against the diocese will be dealt with separately.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Baker says Finn had reasonable cause to believe children were the victims of abuse at the hands of Fr. Shawn Ratigan
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Baker says alarming photos found on Ratigan's laptop were taken between May of 2010 and December 2010
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Baker says Ratigan admitted to Bishop Finn that he had a pornography problem.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Baker calls Finn the "definitive authority" and says "the buck does stop with Finn."
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Baker concludes opening statement. J.R. Hobbs set to speak for Finn.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs says bench trial avoids live testimony that could be hard on some witnesses and having to review photos
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs says " Good faith exercised by a variety of individuals."
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs says "Bishop Finn never saw the photographs, perhaps he should have but he didn't feel the need at the time."
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs says Bishop Finn believed "it had been handled." talking about the Ratigan revelations.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs says "regrettably, (Finn's) handling of this matter (Ratigan) fell short."
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Hobbs has concluded his statement. State submitting no further evidence than stipulations already presented.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Judge wants recess to consider stipulations of 9-10 pages and defense motion for judgment.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
30 minute recess, reconvene 3:25 pm
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn stands looks at crowd in courtroom
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn leaves courtroom through convenient back door.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Court is back in session
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
judge denies defense motion for acquittal
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
judge asks did finn have info beforehand that constituted reasonable cause to believe child abuse
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
judge says on count one, evidence falls short.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
on count two, evidence exceeds proof beyond reasonable doubt.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Bishop Robert Finn found guilty on county of failure to report child abuse.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Sentencing being discussed now.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Prosecutor wants two years probation SIS
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
hobbs wants suspended imposition of sentence.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Bishop Finn gets up to speak
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn tells judge protection of children paramount, sex abuse will not be tolerated
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Finn says he regrets and is sorry for what has occurred.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Judge imposes sentence of 2 years probation on Finn with suspended imposition of sentence.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
No supervised probation for Finn
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
special conditions of probation
finn attend mandated reporter training from state.— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
institute training program with fbi cyber crimes task force for clergy what constitutes child pornography, obscenity, signs of grooming
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
fund of $10,000 established for counseling services of victims
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
finn shall issue instructions to all agents of diocese to report suspicions of child abuse.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
judge says case illustrates institutional problem
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Prosecutor says since they got a conviction on Finn, they will dismiss remaining charges against Catholic diocese of KC-St. Joe
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
Judge says this is appropriate and just way to wrap this up.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
court is adjourned.
— John Pepitone (@JohnPepitone) September 6, 2012
