Former Frederick priest must register as sex offender [naked jogging priest trial now closed]

The Longmont Times-Call ^ | 11/20/2008 | Victoria Camron

[Alex Murphy]

GREELEY - A former Catholic priest who was found jogging naked in Frederick must register as a sex offender, a Weld County judge ordered today.

Judge Timothy Kerns said the law required Robert Whipkey to register, but the judge would have required it anyway.

Whipkey was sentenced to five years of probation ad cannot have contact with any children younger than 18, even family members.

Whipkey was convicted of indecent exposure in June after a five-hour trial. He faced between six and 18 months in prison along with having to register as a sex offender.

He was the pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Frederick, as well as of parishes in Erie and Mead, when he was arrested in June 2007.

An off-duty Frederick police officer saw Whipkey walking naked on Fifth Avenue at about 4:35 a.m.; he told the officer he was jogging naked on the track at Frederick High School.

Whipkey today did not talk to reporters as he left the courtroom, surrounded by a handful of supporters.

[Alex Murphy]

The article refers to him as a former priest. Whipkey was first placed on administrative leave from the Archdiocese of Denver, two months after his arrest in June of 2007. The most recent statement from the Archdiocese came June 2008, post-conviction, in which they confirmed that Whipkey was still on administrative leave at that time.

There are additional details regarding today's hearing found in other news stories. There was this, according to the Greeley Tribune, which may indicate a dismissal by the Archdiocese, and indicates that Whipkey is appealing the sentence:

This morning Whipkey appeared, in a blue shirt and slacks, and told Weld County Court Judge Timothy Kerns the conviction has ruined his life.

“This conviction has cost me my career and my life,” said Whipkey, who said he is unemployed and having trouble finding a job.

Kerns said the sentence was warranted based on professional evaluations and reports he read about Whipkey. Kern said that jogging naked was a manifestation of a something that, if left untreated, could be a danger to the public.

“You must be held accountable, and you must face these issues in treatment,” Kerns said.

The sentence, which will be held until Whipkey’s appeals process is complete...

Also, cbs4denver added that there's a stay of sentencing, pending conclusion of the appeal:

"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.

Prior articles, in chronological order:
Naked truth: Priest jogs in birthday suit
Colo. priest charged for jogging naked
Priest faced prior nudity allegations
Jogging in (less than) brief
Jury will decide priest’s guilt [naked jogging priest case goes to trial]
Priest caught naked pleads not guilty to indecent exposure
Priest’s pre-trial hearing delayed [Father Bob Whipkey, the naked jogging priest]
Judge suppresses priest’s statement [Father Bob Whipkey, the naked jogging priest]
Frederick priest may consider plea in nude jogging case [Fr. Bob Whipkey, the naked jogging priest]
Trial For Suspected Naked Jogging Priest Begins
Witnesses: Priest often in the nude [Fr. Bob Whipkey, the naked jogging priest, on trial]
Priest found guilty of indecent exposure [Fr. Bob Whipkey, the naked jogging priest]
Archdiocese: Priest still on leave [Only Vatican can defrock Fr Whipkey, the naked jogging priest]

[Loud Mime]

The politics in Colorado isn’t the only thing that turned blue.

[Alex Murphy]

The politics in Colorado isn’t the only thing that turned blue.

Ah, but it happened on a June morning, and Father Whipkey was "sweating profusely" according to his court testimony. He might have experienced shrinkage (I wasn't there, and I don't want to know), but I don't think his complaint was that it was cold outside!

[Palladin]

Where the he!! does the Church find these guys? Looks like priests are getting more bizarre, and not less, since we got a new Pope.

One in my town robbed the parish blind to go on jaunts with his boyfriends. (Everyone knew he was gay, but the old ladies liked him anyway.)

He was spending the money on drugs and partying. So, what did they do? Sent him to the Mayo Clinic for detox, then brought him back and put him in charge of another parish!!!

Is it any wonder I don’t contribute to The Bishop’s Annual Appeal?

(This is in the rotten Diocese of Scranton, PA.)

[HarleyD]

This morning Whipkey appeared, in a blue shirt and slacks, and told Weld County Court Judge Timothy Kerns the conviction has ruined his life. “This conviction has cost me my career and my life,” said Whipkey, who said he is unemployed and having trouble finding a job.

What did he expect?

I would comment on the name "Whipkey" but there are ladies present. ;O)

[big'ol_freeper]

Someone has a very sick fixation with naked priests. Makes me wonder if there might be fondness for rainbow stickers on the back windshield.

[Alex Murphy]

The Longmont Times-Call has updated and expanded on their story. Here's the revised article, in full, with newly added sections in bold:

GREELEY — A former Catholic priest who was found jogging naked in Frederick must register as a sex offender, a Weld County judge ordered today.

"This incident is a manifestation of the substantial risk you pose to the community if you are left untreated," Judge Timothy Kerns said to Robert Whipkey during the half-hour sentencing hearing.

State law required Whipkey to register, but the judge said he would have ordered it anyway. He also sentenced Whipkey to five years' probation and 100 hours of community service.

Whipkey was convicted in June of misdemeanor indecent exposure after a five-hour jury trial. A year earlier, an off-duty Frederick police officer saw him walking naked on Fifth Avenue at about 4:30 a.m.

Whipkey, who then was pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Frederick, as well as of churches in Mead and Erie, later told police he had been jogging at Frederick High School without wearing clothes so he could avoid sweating profusely.

A pre-sentencing evaluation showed Whipkey's exhibitionist behavior was a sexual deviation that, without treatment, could develop into a different problem, Kerns said.

"You must be held accountable and you must address these issues in counseling," Kerns said. Without the proper treatment, there's "too great a risk" that Whipkey could harm others, the judge added.

As part of his probation, Whipkey cannot have contact with any children younger than 18, even family members, or use the Internet unless his probation officer approves it.

The entire sentence, however, is on hold while Whipkey's attorney appeals the conviction to district court.

Lee Harrell said after the hearing that he has filed a notice to appeal, but not the appeal itself.

Given the chance to address the court, Whipkey said, "This conviction has cost me ... my career and my life."

Through counseling, he has changed the way he looks at the world and is now less selfish, Whipkey said.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Whipkey had exposed himself to the public on at least two previous occasions.

At the sentencing hearing, Kerns said the former priest has had about nine years' of treatment.

"It appears to be very helpful," Kerns said, encouraging the priest to continue.

Whipkey did not talk to reporters as he left the courtroom. He was surrounded by a handful of supporters.

More info from other news sources:

First, there's a discrepancy regarding the terms of Whipkey's sentence. Some article omit the number of hours of community service Whipkey has to perform as part of his five-year probation. Other articles (including the revised one, above) claim 100 hours of community service must be performed.

The sentencing story carried by theDenverChannel.com mentions that "Weld County Judge Timothy Kerns could have sentenced Whipkey up to 18 months in prison", a detail that was in the original version of the Times-Call story. but was dropped in the revision.

This morning Whipkey appeared, in a blue shirt and slacks, and told Weld County Court Judge Timothy Kerns the conviction has ruined his life.

Finally, theDenverChannel.com story includes this picture taken at today's sentencing:

The Archdiocese of Denver issued a statement Friday acknowledging that when Whipkey was a pastor in Sterling in 1999, "the Archdiocese did respond to concerns of inappropriate personal behavior by Father Whipkey." It said Whipkey "immediately entered therapy regarding his personal issues," which continued for several years. - from August 14, 2007

One small detail mentioned in the Times-Call revision was that Whipkey "has had about nine years' of treatment" for his exhibitionist behavior. That would mean the Archdiocese of Denver's response, since 1999's "inappropriate personal behavior" was to keep him in therapy constantly.

[tiki]

ROFL

[Alex Murphy]

At the sentencing hearing, [Judge Timothy] Kerns said the former priest has had about nine years' of treatment.

"It appears to be very helpful," Kerns said, encouraging the priest to continue.

According to the United Press International wire story, State law requires Whipkey, 55, to register as a sex offender for 10 years.