Posted on 06/12/2008 1:51:25 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
A Frederick priest had a habit of walking around nude, according to testimony at an indecent exposure trial today.
Robert Whipkey, 53, was arrested when he was seen heading home on June 22 last year after a pre-dawn jog in the buff.
A police officer today testified he was stunned to see a large nude man walking down the street near his home that morning.
"I have seen lots of things in my line of work," said Officer Zachariah Hahn. "But I was shocked to see a man walking completely nude down the street."
Today was the first day of testimony in Whipkey's trial in Weld County Court. The prosecution rested after four witnesses. The defense may take up the case today, and the jury could have it late today or tomorrow.
If convicted, Whipkey could be listed as a sex offender.
Other witnesses this afternoon testified that they saw Whipkey walk around nude in his home.
Neighbor Robin Ciarabola lived across the street from Whipkey for three years.
She said she saw him naked at least twice a week.
"It was a pretty common occurrence," she said.
Whipkey's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said Whipkey was spotted by accident that morning and immediately covered up when he knew someone had seen him.
"He didn't mean to expose himself to anyone...he's not on trial because you think he's weird."
- The Weld County Judge is Michele Meyer
- The Prosecutor is Kent Leier
- The Defense lawyers are Matt Giacomini and Doug Tisdale
Pertinent facts from prior stories:
- Whipkey's vocation (i.e. his status as a Catholic priest) will not be revealed to the jury during the trial, by order of Judge Meyer, but prior incidents of exhibitionism on the part of Whipkey will be admissible. The judge also reversed a prior ruling, allowing his statement to officers "I know what I did was wrong" to be admissible as evidence.
- The Denver Post coverage mentioned that, on the same day that Whipkey's "not guilty" plea was entered, a lawyer representing Whipkey (presumably one of the Tisdales) said the priest deeply regretted any discomfort and embarrassment that the situation had caused Catholics in the archdiocese, his family or anyone else.
- According to the CW2 coverage, Father Whipkey was slapped with a mandatory restraining order against the Frederick police officer who found him naked, and Whipkey was ordered to be fingerprinted.
- According to the earlier Times-Call coverage, the Archdiocese of Denver had yet to surrender Whipkey's personnel records to the Weld County Prosecutor at the time of the arraignment hearing.
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]
Trial For Suspected Naked Jogging Priest Begins
GREELEY — The defense attorney for a Frederick priest facing an indecent exposure charge on Wednesday questioned a witness’s claim that seeing the priest naked caused alarm.The trial for the Rev. Robert Whipkey, 54 — who police said they discovered jogging in the nude at 4:30 a.m. June 22, 2007, near Frederick High School — started slowly at the Weld County Courthouse on Wednesday.
Because police said a witness felt alarmed when they saw Whipkey nude, the priest faces the misdemeanor indecent exposure charge. Defense attorney Harvey Steinberg questioned that criteria at the start of the hearing.
“If a beautiful woman was striding down a street in the nude, a group of young men, 18, 19, 20 years in age, may not find it alarming,” Steinberg said. “They may find her attractive. If a male (who is) less attractive is seen by this same group, they may find it alarming.”
Weld County Judge Timothy Kerns rejected Steinberg’s arguments and allowed jury selection to begin.
Jurors who said they had been exposed to media coverage of Whipkey’s case were individually interviewed by attorneys on both sides to determine how the coverage might have influenced them.
Six jurors and one alternate will be chosen to hear the case today.
If convicted of the misdemeanor, Whipkey could have to register as a sex offender.
Whipkey served parishes in Frederick, Mead and Erie until news of his June arrest became public in August.
This should be “Catholic caucus” so we can hide it from the heathens.
What a crock.
Must have a chaffing problem.
“could be listed as a sex offender.”
No, not appropriate. Listed as a moron in the nude - yes!
Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart
Live free and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star
Stay free, where no walls divide you
You’re free as the roaring tide
So there’s no need to hide
Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
‘cause you’re born free
(Stay free, where no walls divide you)
You’re free as the roaring tide
So there’s no need to hide
Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
‘cause you’re born free
“Don’t look Ethel!”
The priest must have taken a vow of poverty so he didn’t have the money to buy clothes.
this dude is another priest imprsonator. If he were a true Catholic priest he would not do that. No priest would behave in this manner if he is truly a man of God. Toss the bum out!!!!
Whipkey, huh. I can just picture his key whipping around on that jog.
Maybe it is a religious ritual where he routinely engages in self-flagellation and tries to flog himself to death.
If God meant us to be naked we would have been born that way. Wait a minute...
(Just a little humor, don’t make anything about it.)
When someone goes jogging nude isn’t the word “hide” inoperative?
Too late. The heathens have arrived, LOL.
Verb: Inoperative.
Noun: Operative.
I guess he felt he had nothing to hide.
Yeesch...put some clothes on. Oh....that’s his face. ;O)
Not when that's all you can see
Poor fellow has some sick desire to display what no one else wants to see. Perversion by any other name is what it is.
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