ALASKA
Kodiak Daily Mirror
Article published on Thursday, May 5th, 2005
By JAN DANELSKI
Mirror Writer
Father Robert Bester, pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kodiak from the spring of 2003 until July of 2004, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday by the Archdiocese of Anchorage pending investigation of sexual misconduct.
The action preceded a KTVA 11 News report aired on television Wednesday night reporting Bester solicited sexual favors from an adult male in exchange for getting the man a job on a church construction project.
The news report, preceded by a disclaimer of graphic content, showed Bester talking with a construction worker and broadcast their conversation.
According to an Archdiocese press release Wednesday, Bester informed them an adult male had accused him of inappropriate behavior and that he (Bester) had reported the incident to the police.
Many in Kodiak who saw the television news broadcast were upset and shocked.
“The things played on the tape are very hard to repeat in an office setting,” Lynn Devlin, ad manager for the Kodiak Daily Mirror, said.
Posted by kshaw at May 6, 2005 06:11 AM