Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — The judge overseeing the criminal case against former New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker has recused himself.
Hecker’s trial was set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 24 . However, the recusal caused another delay in the trial.
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Hecker is accused of aggravated rape, kidnapping, crimes against nature and theft.
He was indicted on those charges by a jury in September 2023, after what is believed to be his confession of sexually molesting and harming several teenagers between 1966 and 1972 surfaced.
At a competency hearing on Aug. 8, a judge stated that Hecker was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia with mild cognitive impairment.
The evaluation at that hearing did not clarify whether Hecker is competent to stand trial.
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On Sept. 24, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Benedict Willard recused himself from the case, citing “disrespect” and the state’s actions.