Maumee priest pleads not guilty to sexual imposition charge
5/14/2008A Roman Catholic priest and former pastor of St. Joseph s Church in Maumee pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to a charge stemming from an incident at the YMCA/JCC in Sylvania where he was accused of having improper sexual contact with an adult in a hot tub.
The Rev. Frank Murd was arraigned in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on one count of misdemeanor sexual imposition, was booked into the county jail, and then released on a $500 cash bond. Judge James Jensen set a trial date of June 24.
The charge stems from a reported incident March 18 at the YMCA/JCC, 6465 Sylvania Ave. The male victim called Sylvania Township police later that day, and a report was filed with the department.
Father Murd, 66, who was ordained in 1976, resigned as pastor of St. Joseph s about a month later. In announcing his resignation to parishioners in an April 10 letter, the Diocese of Toledo said he entered into treatment at an undisclosed residential facility for "appropriate spiritual remedies" and "professional evaluation and counseling."
Sexual imposition is a third-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $500 fine.