Former pastor of Clinton church testifies in own sexual abuse trial

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Former pastor of Clinton church testifies in own sexual abuse trial

Joleen Ferris

Story Created: Jan 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 18, 2008 at 8:09 PM EDT

UTICA - Reverend William Procanick is accused of sexual abuse in the first degree for allegedly inappropriately touching a seven-year-old girl.

The child was a pre-school student of his wife who frequently stayed with the couple. Procanick has maintained that there was nothing sexual about his rubbing the girls back and legs as she tried to go to sleep.

Procanick was pastor at Resurrection Assembly of God Church in Clinton before stepping down in Spring of 2007.

Today, parishioners and supporters of Procanick held hands and prayed outside the courtroom while he testified in his own defense. The sometimes tense exchange between Procanick and the prosecutor went on for more than two hours.

During that time a statement was brought into evidence- a statement investigators took from Procanick and which he signed an initialed.

Procanick though, disputed many parts of that statement, among them: the quote, "This is the first and only time I ever hurt a child" and also, the quote, "I just want to get some help so I never do this again"

These are among many quotes in the statement given to and signed by Procanick which he now claims he never said, or were taken out of context.

Attorneys are expected to make closing arguments this afternoon then the jury will get the case. There could be a verdict by the end of the day.

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