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đăng ngày 12 tháng 9, 2008
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Linh mục bị buộc
tội bán Cocaine trong Nhà nguyện đại học
ABC - USA Today
đăng ngày 12/09/2008
Phúc trình của báo chí địa phương cho hay trong tuần lễ nầy, một Linh mục
Công giáo đã bị buộc tội bán cocaine tại văn phòng và nhà riêng của Linh mục
trong khuôn viên Đại học University of
Illinois tại thành phố Urbana-Champaign.
Theo nhật báo The Pantagraph, linh mục Christopher Layden, 33
tuổi, bị bắt hôm thứ tư, ngày 10 tháng 9, sau khi cảnh sát tìm được “vào
khoảng 3 gram cocaine bột và các dụng cụ linh tinh có liên quan đến ma túy”
trong khi lục xét khuôn viên đại học theo lệnh của trát tòa.
Tờ báo cho biết linh mục
Layden đã cho mình vô tội về 3 điều tố cáo.
Báo The News-Gazette
tường trình rằng một mật báo viên cho cảnh sát biết từ năm 2007, ông ta đã
dùng cocaine chung với vị Linh mục nầy “40 đến 50 lần” . Tờ báo còn cho biết
thêm rằng “Phó Biện lý Tiểu bang thứ nhất Steve Ziegler, hôm thứ Năm, tuyên
bố tại tòa rằng cảnh sát tại Đại học UI đã theo dõi việc mật báo viên mua
cocaine của Linh mục Layden vào ngày 4 tháng Chín”.
Về vụ nầy, độc giả có thể
truy cập phúc trình tội ác của Sở Cảnh sát đại học tại
http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/crimereports.aspx .
Trong một bản tuyên bố với
đài truyền hình ABC địa phương, Giáo khu Peoria “bị sốc và lấy làm buồn” khi
biết rằng Linh mục Layden bị bắt. Theo bản tuyên bố, Linh mục Layden đã bị
đình chỉ nhiệm vụ trong khi chờ đợi kết quả cuộc điều tra.
Priest charged with selling coke from campus rectory
A Catholic priest was charged this week with selling
cocaine from his office and residence at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, local news organizations
report.
The Rev. Christopher Layden, 33, was arrested
Wednesday after police found "about 3 grams of powder cocaine and items of
drug paraphernalia" while executing a search warrant on the campus,
according to
The Pantagraph.
Layden pleaded not guilty to three charges, the
paper says.
The News-Gazette reports an informant told police that he has
used cocaine with the priest "40 to 50 times" since 2007. "First Assistant
State's Attorney Steve Ziegler said in court Thursday that the UI police
monitored a cocaine purchase by the informant from Layden on Sept. 4," the
paper says.
Here's the campus police department's
blotter entry about
this case.
The Peoria Diocese says in a
statement
to the local ABC affiliate that it was "shocked and saddened" to learn of
the priest's arrest. He has been suspended pending the outcome of the case,
the statement says.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/09/priest-charged.html
Campus Priest Accused of Dealing CokePriest at Univ. of Illinois
Allegedly Sold Cocaine from His Home and Office
A Catholic
priest on the University of Illinois campus has been charged with selling
cocaine from his church office and rectory.
The Reverend
Christopher Layden pleaded not guilty Thursday to two counts of delivery of
less than 1 gram of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church and one count of
possession with intent to deliver 1 to 15 grams of cocaine near a church.
The 33-year-old
was arrested Wednesday at St. John's Catholic Newman Center after
investigators found 3 grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia while
searching his home and office. His bond was set at $50,000.
The Catholic
Diocese of Peoria says it has suspended Layden.
His attorney,
Mark D. Lipton, did not immediately respond to an after hours message
seeking comment.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=5784310
One-time Normal priest posts bond, out of jail on drug charges
URBANA -- A priest who once served at Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal
posted $5,000 bond Thursday afternoon and was released from jail on charges
he sold drugs. |
Epiphany pastor: 'If it’s true, it’s dreadful'
The Rev. Christopher Layden was arrested Wednesday after University of
Illinois police searched the St. John’s Catholic Newman Center and Layden’s
personal residence at the rectory across the street from the student center.
Police collected about three grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia,
including a scale, according to police reports. Layden faces two counts of
unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful
possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, all within
1,000 feet of a church.
If convicted, Layden could receive six to 30 years in prison on the more
serious charges.
Initial information from police does not point to students as Layden’s
alleged customers.
“We have no information that tells us that he was selling to students,” said
Champaign police Lt. Roy Acree.
Layden is the only suspect in the drug case, which remains under
investigation, said Acree.
The Catholic Diocese of Peoria suspended Layden on Thursday from all
pastoral duties. The diocese is cooperating with police in the
investigation.
Layden was assigned to the Normal parish from 2003 to 2005 and assisted at
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Downs. He taught at Central Catholic High
School, Bloomington, before leaving for the Urbana student center.
Layden, a native of Hoopeston, was ordained in 2001 and has served at
churches in the Quad Cities and Ottawa.
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/09/12/news/doc48ca852d3f926278261757.txt
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