Suspended Greek Orthodox priest pleads not guilty to sex abuse, other charges

By Judy Harrison
Bangor Daily News
December 3, 2014

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/12/03/news/court/suspended-greek-orthodox-priest-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-abuse-other-charges/?ref=latest

Adam Metropoulos, 52, of Bangor.

Adam Metropoulos (right), 52, of Bangor listens to District Court Judge John Lucy with his attorney Marvin Glazier of Bangor Wednesday at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor. The suspended Greek Orthodox priest faces sexual abuses charges along with possession of pornography and violation of privacy counts. He has pleaded not guilty.

BANGOR, Maine — The former priest at St. George Greek Orthodox Church pleaded not guilty Wednesday at the Penobscot Judicial Center to four counts of sexual abuse of a minor, one count each of possession of sexually explicit materials and violation of privacy.

Adam Metropoulos, 52, of Bangor was indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury on Nov. 25.

He appeared with his attorney, Marvin Glazier of Bangor, before District Court Judge John Lucy. Metropoulos is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 11.

Metropoulos was arrested Sept. 15 after allegedly possessing child pornography and for surreptitiously photographing a woman taking a shower in his bathroom.

A subsequent investigation led the Penobscot County district attorney’s office to seek charges alleging the sexual abuse of a minor.

Michael Roberts, deputy district attorney for Penobscot County, said last month that there was one male victim who was 15 years old at the time the alleged abuse took place, between the summer of 2005 and the spring of 2007. The priest knew the victim through the church, Roberts said.

The victim came forward after Metropoulos’ arrest was covered by the local media, Roberts said.

Metropoulos remained at Penobscot County Jail on Wednesday night as he was unable to post bail of $50,000 cash or $100,000 surety.

Roberts said outside the courthouse after Metropoulos’ first court appearance in September that the high bail was warranted, in part, because the suspended priest’s 1983 conviction on a sex charge in Michigan.

The bishop of the Greek Orthodox diocese that includes Maine suspended the priest of St. George church the day after his arrest.

Metropoulos was convicted in Michigan in 1983 of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 13, according to Saginaw court records.

If convicted, Metropoulos faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 on the abuse and the possession of child pornography charges, a Class C crime, and up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000 on the violation of privacy charge, a Class D crime.

To reach a sexual assault advocate, call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 800-871-7741, TTY 888-458-5599. This free and confidential 24-hour service is accessible from anywhere in Maine. Calls are automatically routed to the closest sexual violence service provider.