Judge Allows Rape Trial of Priest to Proceed

A Sonoma County judge said there is enough independent evidence to try a Catholic priest accused of rape.

Judge Gayle Guynup ruled Wednesday that Father Don Kimball should stand trial because evidence clearly corroborated the stories of victims.

Kimball, a former youth minister, is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in 1977 at Resurrection Parish in Santa Rosa.

He also is accused of committing a lewd act with a 13-year-old girl in 1981 at St. John's rectory in Healdsburg.