A unexpected turn of events stunned the prosecutor in a sex abuse case involving a Louisville priest.
On Thursday (5/11) Joseph Hemmerle was set to confess to molesting a second young boy. Defense attorney David Lambertus decided not to go through with it and announced he planned on going to trial instead.
Special Prosecutor Leilani Martin was stunned by the reversal in Meade County Circuit Court Thursday morning. Martin said Hermmerle is both a convicted pedophile and a priest. Hermmerle was not in the courtroom.
Martin said the both sides of the case had spent weeks working out a plea agreement, which was signed. The plea deal offered two years to serve for sex abuse and sodomy but no new prison time as Hemmerle’s already behind bars. He’s serving a 10-year sentence for child sex abuse charges dating back to the 1970s when he served at Camp Tall Trees.
Thursday’s case also stems from accusations at the camp. Taking it to trial, Hemmerle faces up to life in prison if convicted. This plea agreement would have greatly changed Hemmerle’s story as he’s been steadfast about being falsely accused.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 18.
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