Priest, drug counsellor in pot bust

[kiwi_farmer]

By ninemsn staff

19:00 AEST Wed Oct 1

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=640197

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A Catholic priest and a drug counsellor have been charged with possessing and dealing marijuana after the scent of the joint they were smoking wafted into a nearby police vehicle.

 

A patrolman in the US state of West Virginia was on patrol in the town of Charleston over the weekend when he became aware of the smell and pulled over the silver minivan in front as it was the only vehicle in sight, the Charleston Daily Mail reports.

 

He claimed Father James O'Connor and Michael Deegan were found to be smoking a hand-rolled joint and an inspection of the vehicle allegedly revealed 2.8 ounces or nearly 100g of marijuana packed in black plastic bags.

 

The officer arrested O'Connor and let Deegan go, but encountered him later that evening and got his police dog Vader to search Deegan's car.

 

The result: 152g of marijuana found and another arrest.

 

The men appeared in court overnight and were bailed for $15,000 and $20,000 respectively, but O'Connor has not returned to his church.

 

The news stunned parishioners.

 

"I am just heartbroken — he has been good for the parish," 40-year church attendee Jane Roy told the Mail.

 

"We love him and we are totally shocked."

 

O'Connor refused to comment publicly but Deegan said he "(felt) bad: I feel like I made a mistake".