CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A parishioner accused of stabbing a
south Texas Roman Catholic priest nearly 20 times has been
sentenced to 12 years in prison as part of a plea deal.
David Rodriguez was sentenced Friday on a charge of aggravated
assault with a deadly weapon about a week before he was to stand
trial in San Patricio County.
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports that the Rev. Shaji
Varghese didn't know Rodriguez was being sentenced when he showed up at the court Friday to drop off a victim impact statement. He
attended the hearing but declined to speak, saying he has forgiven
Rodriguez and the punishment "is nothing to me."
Rodriguez was arrested last May after Varghese was attacked
following a church service. Rodriguez has a history of mental
illness but was declared competent for trial.