Las Vegas priest sentenced to prison for attack on woman

LAS VEGAS (AP) A Roman Catholic priest has been sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for attacking a woman in a Las Vegas church office and smashing a wine bottle over her head.

The Reverend George Chaanine (shah-NEEN') denied he sexually assaulted the woman and offered an apology and a rambling statement about his feelings for her before he was taken away in handcuffs.

The woman sang in the Our Lady of Las Vegas church choir and had been hired by Chaanine as the parish events coordinator. She testified that the attack caused her to lose faith in the church.

After Chaanine pleaded guilty in September to felony battery with a deadly weapon, prosecutors dropped other charges, including attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping that could have resulted in a life sentence.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-01-07 1811CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list