Roman Catholic priest sentenced to 20 years in prison

A Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for sodomizing a boy in the church rectory during the 1970s.

The Rev. Thomas Graham, 72, was convicted in August.

Defense attorney Christian Goeke said he would challenge the constitutionality of the 1969 Missouri law used to prosecute Graham, who was not indicted until 2002.

Graham's lawyers contended that the statute of limitations had run out on the alleged crimes. But prosecutors cited a 36-year-old law that has no statute of limitations for "abominable and detestable crimes against nature."

Graham's case has been seen as a test of that old law. Prosecutors said at least one other case is waiting on the outcome, reported AP. P.T.

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