By Monte Whaley
Denver Post
June 11, 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9551256
GREELEY — Jury selection began this morning in the indecent exposure trial of a priest accused of jogging naked in June 2007 near Frederick High School.
But jurors will not hear testimony in the case against 54-year-old Rev. Robert Whipkey until Thursday because Whipkey's attorney had to attend a funeral this afternoon.
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| The Rev. Robert Whipkey in January, 2007. Photo by Mike Hagan |
An off-duty police officer spotted Whipkey walking nude toward his home at about 4:30 a.m. He reportedly told the officer he had just finished jogging near the high school and didn't think anyone would be around at that time of the morning.
Whipkey also told police he sweats profusely if he wears clothing while jogging, saying, "I know what I did was wrong."
Weld County Judge Timothy Kerns ruled in previous hearings that lawyers could not refer to Whipkey as a priest during the trial because it had no bearing on the charge.
Kerns also ruled that prior incidents — including allegations that Whipkey was seen walking around nude in his home, swam in a lake naked and woke children up at a retreat while nude — could be admitted during the two-day trial.
Kerns denied a defense motion over that argument that the indecent exposure charge was unconstitutional.
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