A New York Police Division chaplain and Catholic priest has been arrested and accused of hiring a prostitute, although the clergyman maintains his innocence.
Father Michael Eguino, a 40-year-old pastor on the Church of St. Anselm & St. Roch who was appointed a chaplain in 2021, was arrested final Friday and charged with soliciting prostitution.
Eguino was reportedly arrested not removed from his parish and given a desk look ticket, reported NBC New York. He’ll quickly want to look earlier than a choose at a Bronx courthouse.
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Along with his place as a parish priest and police chaplain, Eguino additionally served as a religious director for the NYPD Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island Holy Title Society.
Oliver Storch, the lawyer for Eguino, launched a press release quoted by Information 12 of New York on Saturday denying that the clergyman was patronizing a prostitute when he was arrested.
In accordance with Storch, the arrest derived from a “prior allegation of a lady who is just not a prostitute however a troubled particular person who Father Eguino had recommended prior to now.”
The Catholic Archdiocese of New York issued a press release for Eguino’s parish on Saturday, explaining that it “will cooperate with the investigation by the suitable authorities.”
“As you could have heard within the media, an allegation of inappropriate habits with an grownup girl has been made towards your pastor, Father Michael Eguino. Whereas it’s painful for all to listen to this, our folks have expressed that they admire listening to from us straight,” said the Archdiocese.
“Father Eguino denies the allegations and maintains the presumption of his innocence. Nonetheless, for the nice of the parish, Father Eguino has voluntarily stepped away from the parish whereas the matter is investigated.”
The Catholic regional physique concluded by saying that, as the current state of affairs unfolds, “we stay united in prayer for all these concerned, particularly the parish household of St. Anselm.”
Members of Eguino expressed shock on the information of the arrest, with one congregant telling Information 12 that she was “in shock proper now.”
“He’s such a pleasant individual,” mentioned one other member of the congregation, as quoted by Information 12. “I can’t imagine it. I can’t imagine this occurred. Such a pleasant individual.”
