Former Priest, Registered Sex Offender Back In Court

WLKY Kentucky - December 3, 2008

by Steve Burgin | WLKY



LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A former Catholic priest convicted of sexually abusing children was back in court Wednesday, accused with violating his probation.

Daniel Clark has been convicted twice of abusing children, first in 1988 and again in 2003.

He spent about five years in prison before that conviction was overturned.Instead of going to trial again, in January, Clark pleaded guilty, and as a part of his plea agreement, he was placed on probation for another five years -- a move requiring him to register as a convicted sex offender and seek treatment.

"Initially, he was rejected from the program for a misunderstanding," said William Yesowitch, Clark's attorney. "I think between himself and the provider. Subsequently, the motion was filed. We went back and found another provider."

Clark finally got into a program in September, some nine months after he agreed to it. On Wednesday, the prosecutor decided not to pursue further action.

In 2002, a Target 32 investigation discovered Clark was working as a Camp Taylor Fire Department chaplain and attending Explorer Scout meetings. Within days of that story airing, he was charged in Bullitt County with sexually abusing two boys from 1999 to May of 2002.

Clark was rejected from one sex offender program because he refused to admit he had done anything wrong.

According to the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry, Clark is living in apartments on Hackel Lane in southwest Jefferson County, along with three dozen other convicted sex offenders.

Wednesday's brief hearing was attended by Tom Weiter, a victim of clergy abuse who was part of the lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Louisville.

"I would like to see the laws changed," Weiter said. "If you're convicted of sexually abusing a child, you should remain in a treatment program for life, like Alcoholics Anonymous."


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