Niece, 65, entered his plea in early December. Evidence in the case includes a telephone recording by local police over the summer, a recording in which Niece reportedly offered $500 for sex with a 35-year-old Half Moon Bay woman who had approached the director of the Coastside Catholic Worker seeking a job. Niece was subsequently arrested when he showed up to meet the woman, according to Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Niece agreed to take responsibility in the case in exchange for a 10-day limit on the possible six months he faced in county jail. But in a hearing Thursday in San Mateo County Superior Court, Judge Carl Holm agreed with prosecutors who said that Niece had not faced up to his actions and was "blaming the victim in several respects for coming on to him," according to Wagstaffe, who was briefed on the proceeding.
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Holm offered Niece, who was present at the hearing, the chance to change his plea. After a short conference with his attorney, Niece declined, and the judge withdrew the 10-day minimum sentence.
Niece will be sentenced on Feb. 1, after the judge has read a pre-sentence report from the probation department, said Wagstaffe. Niece could now face the full six months, in addition to fines yet to be determined.
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