Sep 12, 2008 / 16:02 pm
A Catholic priest assigned to the Newman Center on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana faces criminal charges for allegedly selling and using cocaine for several months at his Newman Center office and at his nearby home.
Father Christopher Layden, 33, entered his plea in a video arraignment from jail on Monday, the News-Gazette reports. The priest pled innocent to two counts of delivery of less than 1 gram of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church and an additional count of possession with intent to deliver 1 to 15 grams of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church.
The delivery charges carries a mandatory prison term of four to 15 years, while the possession with intent to deliver cocaine charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years.
Judge Richard Klaus set a pre-trial hearing for October 21 and set bond at $50,000. Father Layden posted $5,000 cash two hours later and was released from jail.