Ex-Wisconsin priest ordered to trial on sex assault charges

JEFFERSON, Wis. (AP) -- A retired Wisconsin priest accused of sexually assaulting an altar boy has been ordered to stand trial on six felony counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child.

A Jefferson County judge ruled Tuesday after a brief hearing that there was enough probable cause in the charges for 64-year-old Bill Nolan to face trial.

Nolan's attorney, Jonas Bednarek, did not immediately return a phone message.

Nolan's accuser, now 25, told authorities he was assaulted by Nolan at least 100 times from 2006 to 2010 when the priest served at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The Diocese of Madison says it didn't know about the allegations before police arrested Nolan.

Prosecutors filed charges on May 17. Nolan is free on a $50,000 signature bond and scheduled to enter a plea July 12.

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