Arraignment Date Set for Former LA Mesa Priest Accused of Dui

By Eric Yates
The Patch
September 1, 2012

http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/arraignment-date-set-for-former-la-mesa-priest-accused-of-dui


An Oct. 9 arraignment date is set for the recently appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco, who was pulled over last week near San Diego State University for allegedly driving drunk, the City Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, 56, was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Aug. 25 at a checkpoint in the 5100 block of College Avenue, according to San Diego police Officer Mark McCullough.

Cordileone served as associate pastor at St. Martin of Tours in La Mesa in the 1980s.

Cordileone – one of 11 arrested at the checkpoint – failed a field sobriety test, then consented to an optional preliminary alcohol screening device which measured a blood-alcohol level higher than the legal limit of .08 percent, McCullough said.

Cordileone was placed under arrest and given the option of an official blood or breath test at the checkpoint. He chose a breath test that confirmed a blood-alcohol level higher than the legal limit, McCullough said.

Cordileone's mother, who was a passenger, was allowed to drive home following her son's arrest after officers made sure she had not been drinking and had a valid license, McCullough said.

The defendant is charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than the legal limit of .08 percent or higher.

Cordileone, a San Diego native, attended SDSU for a year before transferring to the University of San Diego, where he obtained a philosophy degree in 1978.

Cordileone, who was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in 2002, chaired the Corporate Board of Catholic Charities and was a member of the University of San Diego Board of Trustees.

He became the Fourth Bishop of Oakland in 2009 and last month was appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco. He is scheduled to be installed in October.