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CNN Live Today

Priest Awaits Extradition to Boston

Aired May 03, 2002 - 14:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It did not take long, but it did happen about two hours ago. The Rev. Paul Shanley, a step closer today back to Boston to face charges that he raped a young boy. With more on Shanley's extradition, that court case, here's Frank Buckley, who was inside that courtroom earlier today.

Frank, hello again.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Bill.

Alleged victims of Paul Shanley have been waiting for this day for quite sometime. They wanted to see him in court, facing criminal charges today. They got to see him in the blue jumpsuit of the San Diego jail, where he was facing a fugitive warrant from Massachusetts that would send him back to Massachusetts to face criminal charges of child rape. Deputy D.A. Bob Locke explained what happened in court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB LOCKE, PROSECUTOR: Essentially, he's saying he's informed of the charges that are pending in the other state, without admitting any guilt at all, because this is just the procedure to transport him.

He was willing to sign, waiving a right that he has, that would have delayed it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Shanley's alleged victim in this case is 24 years old. He says that the alleged crimes occurred when he was 6 years old.

So next for Shanley will be extradition back to Massachusetts. That's expected to take place within 10 days, though it could go as late as 30 days. It really depends on how long it takes for Massachusetts authorities to arrange for the transportation back to Massachusetts.

Once there, he would be arraigned on those criminal charges, three charges of child rape -- Bill.

HEMMER: Frank, you've talked to a number of people who have come into contact with Father Shanley in San Diego. What frankly shocked me about your story, I watched earlier today, is that very few people even knew that he was a priest at one time. BUCKLEY: It really is pretty amazing, Bill.

He came here to California in 1990, and when he came to the San Bernardino diocese of the Catholic church, he came with the letter of recommendation from the Boston archdiocese that said he was a priest in good standing.

He was a supply priest while he was there. That meant that he would come in and provide the occasional mass at St. Anne when he was in San Bernardino. At the same time, he was also the co-owner of a bed and breakfast resort that catered mostly to gay men in Palm Springs.

We talked to people in Palm Springs. They weren't aware at the time that he was in fact a practicing priest here in San Diego. People who live near him -- in fact, the police department here in San Diego, which was using Paul Shanley as a volunteer, they didn't realize he was a former priest until, of course, the controversy broke out of Boston. Really amazing.

HEMMER: Yes, Frank. Thanks.

You say 10 days. Is that the word from inside the court, extradition back to Boston could be anywhere between that time, right?

BUCKLEY: Yes, we're expecting up to 10 days. It may be even sooner than that, but that's sort of the timeframe that we're looking at.

HEMMER: Thanks, Frank. Frank Buckley, again, outside Superior Court, there in San Diego.

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