Man gets 12-year prison term in stabbing of priest

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A parishioner accused of stabbing a south Texas Roman Catholic priest nearly 20 times was sentenced to 12 years in prison as part of a plea deal.  David Rodriguez of Sinton was sentenced Friday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon about a week before he was to stand trial in San Patricio County.

The Rev. Shaji Varghese didn't know Rodriguez was being sentenced when he showed up at the court Friday to drop off a victim impact statement, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported.  He attended the hearing but declined to speak, saying he has forgiven Rodriguez and the punishment "is nothing to me."

"I have no regret or anger toward him," Varghese said.  Rodriguez was arrested last May after Varghese was attacked following a service at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sinton, about 130 miles south of San Antonio.

The Caller-Times previously reported that Rodriguez had told other parishioners that he needed help and that "demons" would fight with him. Varghese was among church officials who had tried to help him deal with his problems, according to the parishioners cited by the newspaper.

In January, Rodriguez was declared competent to stand trial. His attorney, David Stith, didn't immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment Saturday.  Rodriguez also was ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution, San

Patricio County Chief Deputy Oscar Rivera said.