A Louisville priest denied shock probation four years ago is scheduled to be released from prison.
Father Joseph Hemmerly, 79, was found guilty in February 2016 of one count of indecent or immoral practices with a child under 15 and first-degree wanton endangerment for offenses committed in the 1970s. He testified at his trial in Meade County that he would sometimes apply calamine lotion to the genitals of children at Camp Tall Trees, a summer church camp in Meade County.
Hemmerle was sentenced to seven years in prison. One camper, Michael Norris, said Hemmerle stood him on a stool with no clothes on and sexually abused him in the priest’s personal cabin. Norris said he went to him for poison ivy treatment, and was 10-years-old at the time.
Hemmerle is set to be released on October 1, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
According to a previous statement, Hemmerle is no longer part of the Archdiocese of Louisville but is still a priest.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
