Man gets 12 years for stabbing priest

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A parishioner accused of stabbing a south Texas Roman Catholic priest nearly 20 times has been sentenced to 12 years in prison as part of a plea deal.

David Rodriguez 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. He attended the hearing but declined to speak, saying he has forgiven Rodriguez and the punishment "is nothing to me."

Rodriguez was arrested last May after Varghese was attacked following a church service. Rodriguez has a history of mental illness but was declared competent for trial.

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