By Phil Trexler
Beacon Journal
March 4, 2011
http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/117417928.html
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| Rev. Ignatius Kury (right) before his arraignment Friday in Portage County and pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge and remains free on a personal bond. His license also has been suspended. (WEWS photo) |
An Akron priest whose drunken rant after his DUI arrest has been broadcast nationally is embarrassed by his behavior and will enter rehab next week, his attorney said Friday.
The Rev. Ignatius Kury has taken a leave of absence from Holy Ghost Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in South Akron.
Attorney Walter Benson said Kury intends to enter a clerical rehabilitation center in Maryland next week. He said Kury, 35, is undecided about returning to the parish.
''It shouldn't be any surprise that when someone is extremely intoxicated, they say and do really stupid and inappropriate things,'' Benson said.
''But he is a good man who has some issues that he needs to deal with. He's incredibly, unbelievably remorseful for his actions and he's being proactive and voluntarily entering into rehabilitation.''
Brimfield police arrested Kury on Sunday and charged him with drunken driving. His blood-alcohol content was 0.20 percent, 21/2 times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The arrest was Kury's fourth on a DUI charge since 1996.
While in custody at the Brimfield Police Department, Kury was handcuffed to a cinder-block wall until a family member arrived to drive him home.
Soon after arriving at the department, police say, Kury exposed himself to an officer. His behavior prompted police to point a camera at his open cell. For the next 20 minutes, Kury ranted, cursed, screamed and cried.
Video of his actions has gone viral and caught the attention of national websites.
''He's horrified,'' Benson said of the attention.
Kury, he said, has viewed the video.
Benson said media reports that he propositioned an officer for sex have been mischaracterized. He said Kury was frustrated at being shackled and was being sarcastic while speaking to the officer.
''I think it's a complete mischaracterization that he was propositioning the police,'' he said.
Brimfield police did not charge Kury will any crimes related to his behavior while in custody.
On Friday, Kury pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge and remains free on a personal bond. His license also has been suspended.
Kury faces a mandatory 20-day jail sentence, if convicted.
Benson said Kury, an Akron native, has been an active clergyman who has counseled grieving survivors and helped orphans in Europe. He has also won community service awards and last year received an Outstanding Alumni by his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
For now, he said, Kury has left the parish and is staying with family members until he begins the rehab program.
''His hope for the future is to get healthy. I think right now he's just taking things day to day. I don't think [returning to the parish] is something that he can address right now because of the issues he has to deal with.''
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com
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