Over a year ago, there was a very strange story out of Frederick, Colorado.
A Catholic priest faces an indecent exposure charge after police said he went jogging in the nude about an hour before sunrise.
The Rev. Robert Whipkey told officers he had been running naked at a high school track and didn't think anyone would be around at that time of day, a police report said.
He told officers he sweats profusely if he wears clothing while jogging.
"I know what I did was wrong," he said in the report.
Whipkey did not return telephone messages.
His attorney, Doug Tisdale, told the Longmont Times-Call that Whipkey had no comment.
...An officer said he saw a naked man walking down the street at 4:35 a.m.
The U.S. Naval Observatory Web site said sunrise that day in Frederick was 5:31 a.m.
The officer said when he shined his flashlight at the man, he covered himself with a piece of clothing he was carrying.
The Archdiocese of Denver said it takes the incident seriously but is awaiting the outcome of the case.
Here's an update.
From CBS4 Denver:
A Catholic priest convicted of indecent exposure will not serve any time in jail. A Weld County District Court sentenced Father Robert Whipkey to five years probation Thursday morning.
Whipkey will also have to register as a sex offender.
During the hearing, he told the judge the publicity surrounding the case has been a hardship on him and his efforts to look for employement.
"Absolutely extreme, he was a Catholic priest. He no longer can preach and that is more than just a career, that's a calling. He's dedicated his life to that and now lost that and it is extremely painful," said Lee Harrell, Whipkey's attorney.
Whipkey is appealing his conviction. In court, he said his family has been wrecked by this ordeal.
The judge did order a stay of the sentencing until the appeal is decided.
Whipkey had served at parishes in Erie, Mead and Frederick.
I can understand that the case has been a hardship on Whipkey and his family.
The publicity and the court proceedings are no picnic, but he brought this all on himself.
He chose to go on a naked jog. That has consequences.
If he didn't want to put his "calling" in jeopardy or have difficulty finding employment, he should have jogged with his clothes on.
1 comment:
I just can't feel sorry for this guy. What was he thinking? There is something wrong with his ability to make sound decisions if he honestly felt this was ok. I predict lots of therapy in his future.
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