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CNN Live Today

Nine-Year-Old Allegation Comes Back to Haunt

Aired May 14, 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: We're going to begin this hour with a nine-year-old allegation that appears to have come back to haunt, not to mention injure, a priest in Baltimore.

Police tell us a man who claims that Father Maurice Blackwell molested him back in 1993 is charged today with trying to kill Blackwell with a 357-Magnum.

Jeanne Meserve in Baltimore now with the latest on this story.

Jeanne, good afternoon.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.

26-year-old Dante Stokes is in police custody and charged with attempted murder, assault and hand down charges in connection with the shooting last evening of Father Maurice Blackwell, a man who he says sexually abused him nine years ago.

Police say that Stokes drove up to Blackwell's home last evening, engaged him in a brief conversation, and then shot him several times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... standing in front of his car, like he was going to get in his car. And they exchanged words, and the next thing you know, he pulled out his gun and shot him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looked over and saw Father Blackwell laying down in back of his trailer (ph). And, like I said, when we saw it was Father Blackwell, it completely freaked us out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Blackwell was taken to hospital. He is reported be in serious condition there.

Stokes turned himself in to police late last night and is said to be cooperating with authorities.

Blackwell's name has come up before in connection with abuse allegations. Back in 1993, the first allegations brought against him. At the time, he was a pastor at a church, St. Edwards, in Baltimore. He was temporarily removed from that post, but when police and archdiocese were unable to substantiate those allegations, he was returned to post.

But then in 1998, there were separate and unrelated allegations of an improper relationship with a minor and he was removed form the post at that time. He was told that he would not be able to celebrate mass in public, and so he has been restricted in his priestly duties since then -- largely unknown to the archdiocese since then, we are told.

There have been new allegations, the archdiocese says, many allegations since the current rash of sexual abuse charges began around the country. Many here in Baltimore, but I am told that none of those allegations were made again any priest who was currently in position with the archdiocese, and none were made against Father Blackwell.

Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Jeanne, thanks. Jeanne Meserve -- a developing story still in Baltimore.

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