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CNN Live Today

Bail Hearing for Man Who Shot Priest

Aired May 15, 2002 - 12:02   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: The mother of Dontee Stokes says her son had been shaken by the recent scandals to hit the Catholic church. And at this hour, Stokes is being held, as I mentioned, without bond in the attempted murder of the Reverend Maurice Blackwell in Baltimore. Father Blackwell had been suspended after a second claim of sexual abuse. The first claim was made nearly 10 years ago by the man now accused of shooting him.

With the latest now from Baltimore, on this still-developing story, here's Jeanne Meserve -- Jeanne, good afternoon.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.

A bail hearing for Dontee Stokes this afternoon. He is, as you mentioned, in jail charged with attempted murder, first- and second- degree assault and various handgun violations in connection with the shooting of father Maurice Blackwell. Blackwell remains in serious but stable condition, with 3 gunshot wounds, one to his left hand, two to his left torso near the hip.

The shooting took place Monday night in front of Blackwell's home. Stokes has confessed to police in repeated allegations that he first made back 1993 that Blackwell had molested him. Those charges were investigated by the police and by the Catholic church; they were not substantiated. And so Blackwell, who had been temporarily suspended from his pastoral duties, was restored to his position at St. Edwards Catholic Church.

It was only in 1998 when separate and unrelated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor came up, and Blackwell admitted to them that he was removed from his post. Once again, Dontee Stokes having a bail hearing this afternoon. He will not physically be in this courthouse in back of me. He will be at a booking facility adjacent to the jail where he is being held. He will be participating in these proceedings via a video link -- Bill back to you.

HEMMER: Jeanne, what are the police saying relative to the comments from Dontee Stokes that have been reported about him only wanting an apology from the priest? What do we know about that?

MESERVE: Well we heard that comment from Stokes' mother. That what he wanted was to get an apology and he did not get one. What is said in the police charging documents is that he happened to drive through Blackwell's neighborhood, they engaged in a brief conversation. And then according to the charging documents, what Stokes said is that he does not know what came over him. He took out a gun and before he knew it he fired on this man.

He did repeat to police those allegations that he made back in 1993 -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jeanne, thank you -- Jeanne Meserve.

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