By Kevin Deutsch
Palm Beach Post
September 6, 2007
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/south/epaper/2007/09/06/0907BRpriest.html
BOCA RATON — The director of youth ministry at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church was charged with soliciting sex after he propositioned an undercover male officer in a North Carolina park bathroom, police said.
Father Michael Royce Penland, 46, was busted June 28 during "Operation Summer Heat," a sting that focused on city park restrooms in Waynesville, N.C. Police officially charged him with "solicitation for crimes against nature" after he allegedly followed the officer into the bathroom, asked him if he could go home and have sex with him, and tried to follow him home in his car.
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| Michael Royce Penland |
Penland, who has Ph.D. and once practiced psychology in North Carolina, told a police detective he'd started participating in "homosexual activity" about five years ago, according to the police report. He said his wife of 17 years did not know about his behavior.
The charge against Penland, who has a teenage son, is a misdemeanor. He received a citation and is scheduled to appear in Haywood County court Sept. 12.
The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida has suspended him from all duties. Penland could not be reached for comment.
Father Andrew Sherman, who heads the approximately 1,000 member congregation at St. Gregory's, said the church's reaction to Penland's alleged crime was "shock and amazement and dismay."
Penland joined the church in November 2006, working with about 60 young people in grades 6 through 12 as head of the youth ministry. He and other adults took young people on spiritual pilgrimages and overnight mission trips, including a trip to England this summer.
"Since he started here, his ministry has been an extremely positive one here," said Sherman. "There have been no reports that have surfaced that there was any inappropriate behavior that took place here. Certainly, we are praying for the Penland family and care deeply about them."
A church statement expressed hope that Penland would be cleared of the charge. Penland was one of seven people arrested during the first phase of the Waynesville police department's undercover operation, which began June 27. A second phase of the operation ended recently, prompting police to announce the arrests. The sting stemmed from complaints about the behavior of people in and around the restrooms and picnic area at Waynesville Recreation Park.
Police say they stopped Penland in his car after he'd solicited sex from the officer while in a bathroom and started to follow him "home" so they could have sex.
As a detective wrote up the citation, Penland appeared nervous and began pacing, police said. He told the detective he would lose his job if he received a citation.
When she asked him where he worked, he dropped his head in his hands, cursed, and said he was an Episcopalian priest, the report states.
Penland, who has a residences in Candler, N.C. as well as Florida, said he was in the area because of an aunt who is terminally ill.
He once practiced psychology at Skyland Behavioral Health Associates in Asheville, which offers evaluations and psychotherapy for individuals and families with learning, attention, emotional and behavioral issues.
After seminary school, he joined Holy Cross church in Tryon, N.C., where his primary responsibility was making pastoral visits to senior citizens.
Rev. Michael Doty of Holy Cross said he was "shocked and floored" by the allegations. No complaints of inappropriate behavior were lodged against Penland at Holy Cross, where he served from July 2004 until March 2006, Doty said.
Penland underwent a thorough criminal, financial, background and reference check before he came to St. Gregory's.
"There were no red flags," Sherman said.
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