ROCHESTER — City Court Judge John E. Elliott has scheduled jury selection in the trial of Father Dennis R. Sewar to begin Aug. 2.
The diocesan priest has pleaded not guilty to a charge of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class B misdemeanor, according to his attorney, John F. Speranza. If convicted, Father Sewar could face up to 90 days in jail; other sentencing options are conditional discharge, probation and/or a fine, Speranza added.
The charge stems from an allegation of one incident of sexual abuse in October 1999, while Father Sewar was pastor of Rochester’s Church of the Annunciation. Court documents state that the alleged victim was a teenaged boy.
Father Sewar has been on administrative leave since June 2005.
