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	Fugitive Priest May Be in Area Monterey: Las Vegas Cleric Wanted on Attempted Murder Charges Monterey Herald January 31, 2007 http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/local/16586479.htm A Catholic priest sought by Las Vegas police and U.S. marshals in connection with several crimes, including rape and attempted murder, allegedly came through downtown Monterey just as clergy and community members installed a new bishop for the Monterey Diocese. The Rev. George Chaanine, 52, was reportedly seen at the Bank of America on East Franklin Street around 1 p.m. Tuesday, a Monterey County sheriff's deputy reported. A "be on the lookout" alert was issued late Tuesday for the priest, who was previously seen in Las Vegas on Saturday. Chaanine was described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 145 pounds. Press reports indicate Chaanine was driving a white or cream-colored 2005 Buick Le Sabre with Nevada plates 732RRM. A Las Vegas judge issued a warrant for his arrest on attempted murder and other charges in an attack on a church employee in a parish office. Chaanine also faces charges of battery with a deadly weapon, battery with intent to commit sex assault and kidnapping in the Friday attack, police said. Police have refused to name the woman who was attacked, but her lawyer identified her as Michaelina Bellamy. "It was a violent attack," Bellamy's lawyer, Al Massi, said. Massi said he did not know Bellamy's age and refused to provide details about her injuries. He said she would not be interviewed until after a segment on the case is prepared this week for the television true-crime show "America's Most Wanted." Bellamy sang as a church soloist and worked at the Our Lady of Las Vegas parish office where authorities said Chaanine was an administrator. Bellamy is an entertainer with a long résumé, including stints as a featured singer and dancer with the Follies Bergere on the Las Vegas Strip and with singers such as Englebert Humperdinck. Massi said Bellamy and Chaanine worked together in the office but had no previous sexual or romantic relationship. "They were in the same workplace together every day," Massi said. "They had a friendly relationship." Police said the woman was beaten in the head with a blunt object. Investigators have said the attack had "sexual connotations" but said the woman was not sexually assaulted. An aide to Clark County District Attorney David Roger declined to make the warrant public until Chaanine is found. Diocese of Las Vegas spokeswoman Lee Haney said church administrators were "deeply saddened" by the case. Haney released information about Chaanine's background and said church officials were cooperating with police. Chaanine was born in Lebanon and emigrated to the United States after graduating from college, the church spokeswoman said. He received a master's in theology in 1995 from Oblate College, a not-for-profit school in Washington, D.C., and was ordained in November 1996 in the Maronite rite of the church. The Eastern Catholic Maronite church has roots in Lebanon and Syria and is headed by Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir of Lebanon. Chaanine served as associate pastor at congregations in Detroit and Youngstown, Ohio, before becoming pastor from 1998 to 2001 at Our Lady of Lebanon in Wheeling, W.Va. He spent three years as pastor St. Anthony of the Desert Mission in El Paso, Texas, before moving to Las Vegas as a pastor of a Maronite rite in 2004. He began working at Our Lady of Las Vegas in 2004. On Sunday, Chaanine was placed on administrative leave with pay, meaning he cannot act in any capacity as a priest. It remained unclear whether Chaanine had a lawyer.
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