Father Hugh Lang was serving at Saint Therese of Lisieux in Munhall when the alleged assault happened, police say

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT WHAT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF A JUDGE. MARCIE: THE HEARING WAS HEATED THEN THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY DECIDED TO END IT. HE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS CROSS EXAMINATION, TOLD THE JUDGE THE HEARING WAS UNFAIR AND HE WOULDN’T GO ON. >> I DIDN’T THINK HE GOT A FAIR HEARING. MARCIE: FATHER HUGH LANG STAYED SILENT BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE COURTROOM WHILE HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY KERRY LEWIS, THE PROSECUTOR AND THE JUDGE HAD SEVERAL HIGHLY EMOTIONAL EXCHANGES WHILE LANG’S ACCUSSER WAS TESTIFYING. THE WITNESS TOLD THE JUDGE THAT HE WAS 10 WHEN FATHER LANG SEXUALLY ABUSED HIM IN THE CCD ROOM AT ST. THERESE CHURCH IN MUNHALL. LEWIS OBJECTED TO THE WITNESS BEING ALLOWED TO TESTIFY FROM THE PROSECUTION TABLE, RATHER THAN THE STAND, THEN ARGUED THAT THE JUDGE PREVENTING HIM FROM ASKING LANG’S ACCUSER RELEVANT QUESTIONS. LEWIS: I THINK HIS RULINGS AND THE RECORD THAT WAS MADE MY THE COURT REPORTER WILL INDICATE THAT THOSE RULINGS DENIED THE FIRST -- THE NINTH THE DEFENDANT PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS. HE AN 89-YEAR-OLD MAN. HE’S CHARGED WITH AN ACT THAT IS PEDIPHILE AND THIS KIND OF CONDUCT WHEN HE WAS LIKE 72-YEARS-OLD. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM BEFORE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY AFTER , AND HE JUST DIDN’T BECOME AN ABUSER, A PEDAPHILE ON ONE DAY IN JUNE IN 2001. I BELIEVE HE’S INNOCENT AND I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN FIGHTING SO HARD IN THERE IF I DIDN’T BELIEVE IT. I WOULDN’T BE REPRESENTING HIM. REPORTER: LEWIS ASKED JUDGE THOMAS TORKOWSKY REPEATEDLY TO RECUSE HIMSELF. THE JUDGE REFUSED, TOLD LEWIS TO CONTINUE AND THREATENED TO THROW HIM OUT OF THE COURTROOM BEFORE LEWIS STOOD AND TOLD THE JUDGE HE WOULDN’T GO ON. >> I WANT ANOTHER HEARING. I WANT A FAIR HEARING. REPORTER: REFUSING TO GO ON THE -- DESPITE THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY REFUSING TO GO ON THE JUDGE HELD ALL CHARGES FOR TRIAL. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAYS HE WILL TAKE THIS TO A HIGHER COURT AND ASKED FOR ANOTHER JUST TO HANDLE THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.

Advertisement Retired Pittsburgh priest, 88, charged with sexual abuse of child in early 2000s Father Hugh Lang was serving at Saint Therese of Lisieux in Munhall when the alleged assault happened, police say

Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The attorney for retired Catholic priest Hugh Lang, stopped his preliminary hearing Wednesday, claiming his client wasn't being treated fairly. "I think his rulings and the record that was made by the court reporter will indicate that those rulings denied the defendant procedural due process," said defense attorney Kerry Lewis.Father Hugh Lang, who came under investigation in the wake of last year's state grand jury report was arrested on charges that he assaulted a 10-year-old boy during altar service training in 2001, Allegheny County police said.Lang, 88, was released on nonmonetary bond by District Judge Thomas Torkowsky, after turning himself in for arraignment. Police said Lang was charged with sexual abuse of children, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with minors, corruption of minors, indecent assault and indecent exposure.Lang's accuser testified that he was touched in the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) room at Saint Therese in Munhall, in 2001, when he was 10-years-oldLang, of Castle Shannon, was serving at Saint Therese when the alleged assault happened in June 2001, police said.The alleged victim, identified as John Doe, told police that Lang removed him from the other boys in training and took him to the church basement, according to the criminal complaint."After Father Lang and John Doe entered the room, Father Lang locked the door. Father Lang then told John Doe that Doe was a troublemaker and instructed Doe to remove his clothes," the complaint said. "After John Doe removed his clothes, Father Lang took a Polaroid photograph of John Doe while he was standing naked. Father Lang showed the photo to John Doe and warned him that if he didn't behave, he would show the photo to others."Lang allegedly fondled the child, exposed himself and made the boy fondle him, then told the child to clean up and returned to the other boys in training, according to the complaint.Police said the alleged victim is now "an adult professional" who lives outside the U.S. and reported the incident after seeing news coverage of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sex abuse. Lang was not one of the priests named in the grand jury report.The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh put Lang on administrative leave when the allegation surfaced in August. He cannot function as a priest or identify himself as one."We continue to respect the legal process, we will cooperate with it if there's any need, and he remains on administrative leave," said the Rev. Nick Vaskov, a diocesan spokesman.Lewis said he will file for another judge to conduct another preliminary hearing.