The verdict comes less than a year after a civil jury returned a $119.6 million verdict against the Diocese of Dallas for negligence in its handling of the allegations against Rudolph Kos, who was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and also received 20-year prison terms for conviction on four other accounts. He will be eligible to seek parole in 15 years.
Kos had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. Eleven men had filed complaints against Kos for the assaults that occurred at three Dallas-area churches from 1981 to 1992. After the sentencing, the diocese said in a statement: "We hope with the conclusion of the criminal cases that all of us can move forward with the healing process."