Retrial date set for Father James Brennan

Rev. James Brennan, the Roman Catholic priest whose jury was hung earlier this year, will be retried March 6, a judge said today.

Brennan, who was accused of attempting to sexually assault a 14-year-old boy in 1996, stood trial with Monsignor William Lynn in a landmark three-month case. After 13 days of deliberating, the jury could not reach a verdict on two charges against Brennan, but the District Attorney’s Office announced plans to re-try him last month.

Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Coleman set the new trial date after conferring with prosecutors and Brennan’s defense attorneys William Brennan and Richard Fuschino Jr. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 4.

Brennan’s defense has maintained his innocence and claimed that the accuser fabricated the allegations.

Lynn was convicted of one count of child endangerment and sentenced to three to six years in prison.