Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/02/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos San Francisco Assistant District Attorney: Elliot Beckelman - 415-553-9530

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

KEEGAN’S SONOMA COUNTY CASE TO BE TRIED IN SAN FRANCISCO

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that as a result of an investigation into the allegations that Austin Peter Keegan had molested children while he was a priest in Sonoma County, two victims from Sonoma County will be included in the prosecution of Mr. Keegan in San Francisco. The findings of the investigation conducted by District Attorney Investigator Ken Pistorio were forwarded to San Francisco District Attorney Terrence Hallinan for review earlier this year. The criminal acts are said to have started in Sonoma County in 1976 and continued through 1980.

Pursuant to a recent statute (Penal Code section 784.7) if more than one act of child molestation occur in more than one jurisdiction, the district attorneys of all counties having jurisdiction may agree in writing to have one DA pursue all charges in a single venue. Mr. Passalacqua and Mr. Hallinan have discussed Keegan’s case and have agreed that the Sonoma County case will be included in the case against Keegan already filed in San Francisco County. Assistant District Attorney Elliot Beckelman is the prosecutor handling the case in San Francisco. In addition to the Sonoma County case, San Francisco prosecutors are charging Keegan with allegations of child molestation that occurred in San Mateo County.

Last week the Grand Jury in San Francisco returned an indictment containing 77 additional felony counts against Austin Peter Keegan. The next court appearance is June 26, 2003. Presently Keegan is in custody with bail set at $5 million.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, “The consolidation of these cases will allow victims to testify once, rather than multiple times.” Passalacqua also assured San Francisco County that his office will provide available resources to assist in the prosecution of the Sonoma County allegations.