{"id":2049,"date":"2013-01-18T22:51:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-18T22:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/priests-arrest-on-meth-charges-shocks-conn-diocese\/"},"modified":"2013-01-18T22:51:00","modified_gmt":"2013-01-18T22:51:00","slug":"priests-arrest-on-meth-charges-shocks-conn-diocese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2013\/01\/priests-arrest-on-meth-charges-shocks-conn-diocese\/","title":{"rendered":"Priest’s arrest on meth charges shocks Conn. diocese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Bridgeport, Conn., Jan 18, 2013 \/ 03:51 pm (CNA<\/a>).- The arrest of suspended priest Monsignor Kevin Wallin on six drug charges involving methamphetamine has caused \u201cshock and concern\u201d in the Diocese of Bridgeport, where he once served as pastor of the cathedral parish.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe diocese stands ready to help as it has throughout the past two years,\u201d the diocese said Jan. 16. \u201cWe ask for prayers for Msgr. Wallin during the difficult days ahead for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe Connecticut diocese said that Msgr. Wallin resigned as pastor of Bridgeport\u2019s St. Augustine Cathedral in June 2011, telling parishioners and friends that he was \u201cstruggling with a number of health and personal issues.\u201d He was granted a sabbatical in July of 2011.<\/p>\n

\tMsgr. Wallin, 61, was arrested Jan. 3 and charged with six counts of possession with intent to distribute crystal meth. The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office said the priest is accused of receiving drug shipments from a California distributor and selling them to an undercover officer on six occasions between September 2012 and January 2013.<\/p>\n

\tCourt statements say a search of Wallin\u2019s residence on Jan. 3 found suspected methamphetamine and alleged drug paraphernalia and drug packaging materials, the Orange County, Calif. news site the OC Patch reports.<\/p>\n

\tWallin also faces one count of conspiracy to distribute the drug, with four other people. His alleged conspirators include two Connecticut residents, Kenneth Devries and Michael Nelson, and two California residents, Chad McCluskey and Kristen Laschober.<\/p>\n

\tHe could face ten years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million if convicted of the conspiracy charge. In addition, the drug possession charges each carry a sentence of a maximum 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.<\/p>\n

\tAssistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Caruso and H. Gordon Hall are prosecuting the case.<\/p>\n

\tMsgr. Wallin was ordained a priest in 1984. He served as a secretary to Bridgeport bishops Walter Curtis and Edward Egan, now emeritus cardinal of New York, before his appointment as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Danbury from 1996 to 2002.<\/p>\n

\tThe indictment alleges Msgr. Wallin sold over $9,000 of meth a week. He bought an adult video store in North Haven, Conn. that investigators believe he used to launder the drug profits.<\/p>\n

\tThe priest continued to receive his stipend from the diocese until his Jan. 3 arrest.<\/p>\n

\tDiocese spokesman Brian Wallace told the Connecticut Post that the diocese had no indication the priest had a drug problem and no complaints regarding the priest and drugs. He said the diocese became concerned in spring 2011 after complaints of the priest\u2019s appearance and erratic behavior.<\/p>\n

\tThe diocese\u2019s Jan. 15 statement said that during Msgr. Wallin\u2019s sabbatical, the diocese became concerned about his \u201cwell-being\u201d and reached out to him. \u201cTo date, he has not spoken directly with diocesan officials,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\tHis faculties for public ministry as a priest were suspended in May 2012.<\/p>\n

\tCiting unnamed sources, the Connecticut Post says Msgr. Wallin was suspended after cathedral rectory staff notified the diocese that the priest was a cross-dresser who entertained other sometimes cross-dressing men who engaged in sex acts.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bridgeport, Conn., Jan 18, 2013 \/ 03:51 pm (CNA).- The arrest of suspended priest Monsignor Kevin Wallin on six drug charges involving methamphetamine has caused “shock and concern” in the Diocese of Bridgeport, where he once served as past…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nPriest's arrest on meth charges shocks Conn. diocese<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bridgeport, Conn., Jan 18, 2013 \/ 03:51 pm (CNA).- The arrest of suspended priest Monsignor Kevin Wallin on six drug charges involving methamphetamine has caused “shock and concern” in the Diocese of Bridgeport, where he once served as past...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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