Wempe Found Guilty on One Count
Not likely to serve much more time

A Los Angeles jury found former priest Michael Wempe guilty of one count of child molestation this week and hung on four others. Wempe was one of the priests with whom Archbishop Mahoney played “musical parishes” 20 years ago, even after being put on notice the man was a predator of young boys. Jason, the current victim was molested by Wempe between the ages of 11 and 15.

After years of denial, Wempe, 66, admitted last year to molesting 13 boys in the 1970s and '80s. Wempe’s unique defense in the case was “Yeah, I molested Jason’s two older brothers, but not Jason.” Of course, all the victims besides Jason – now 26 – were outside the statute of limitations, making Wempe immune from prosecution on those offenses.

Wempe faces a maximum of three years in prison but has already amassed a year in jail before the trial and is entitled to credit for that time. Under California’s “good time served” provisions, which rewards criminals for behaving in prison, Wempe may do no more than six months of additional time.