Father of NY Teen Killed in Church Beating Pleads Guilty
Source: Associated Press
The father of a 19-year-old New York man who was beaten to death during a church counseling session has pleaded guilty for his role in the attack, which also injured another son.
Bruce Leonard pleaded guilty to assault Wednesday in Oneida County Court, where he was scheduled to go on trial on a more serious murder charge Thursday.
As part of the plea, Leonard will have to testify against his step-daughter, Sarah Ferguson, who's among seven others awaiting trial for the October attack that killed Lucas Leonard and injured 17-year-old Christopher Leonard. Authorities have said the boys had discussed leaving the secretive Word of Life Church.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/father-ny-teen-killed-church-beating-pleads-guilty-40047009
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS UTICA, N.Y. — Jun 22, 2016, 12:46 PM ET
_______________________________________________________________________
Source: The Post-Dispatch
Word of Life defendant takes plea deal; details of beatings emerge
By Elizabeth Doran | edoran@syracuse.com
on June 22, 2016 at 12:17 PM, updated June 22, 2016 at 1:12 PM
UTICA, NY - Bruce Leonard, who is accused of participating in a mass beating at the Word of Life Church that killed one and seriously injured another, accepted a plea deal today in Oneida County Court, according to Oneida County court officials.
Leonard pleaded guilty for first and second-degree assault, according to court officials.
Pleading guilty to those charges satisfies the other charges against him, the court said. He also agreed to testify in court against the other defendants.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
The prosecution has said the pair were beat because of allegations of witchcraft, threats to leave the church and because some believed there was sexual molestation. The police have said there is no evidence of molestation against the church's youngest members.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/06/word_of_life_church_beating_case.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
