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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 20, 1993                   TAG: 9302200156
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW BEDFORD, MASS.                                LENGTH: Short

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JUDGE UPHOLDS MOST CHARGES AGAINST PRIEST

The statute of limitations doesn't affect most of the 46 indictments against a former Roman Catholic priest accused of molesting dozens of children nearly three decades ago, a judge ruled.

The indictments stem from allegations that James Porter molested 32 people while serving as a priest in the Fall River diocese during the 1960s.

Porter, who left the priesthood in the 1970s and now lives in Minnesota, was convicted there in December of molesting his female baby sitter. He was sentenced to six months in prison.

Porter also faces civil lawsuits in Minnesota and New Mexico.

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