Suspended priest pleads guilty to Attempted Unlawful Surveillance

By Rachel Yonkunas
News 10
May 23, 2016

http://news10.com/2016/05/23/former-priest-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-unlawful-surveillance/

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – An inactive Episcopalian priest pleaded guilty to charges that accused him of attempting to video record a woman in a store changing room.

Around 3:40 p.m. on December 23, 2015, Adam Egan attempted to take a video recording of a woman in the changing room of a Salvation Army in Latham. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree.

Fellow priests were in court to show their support.

“They stood by him,” Egan’s attorney Steve Coffey said. “They understood e was wrong; understood he needed help. They are working with him.”

Egan was a priest at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Delmar, but church members said they hadn’t seen him since the incident. They said he’s been staying in Pennsylvania.

During Mass on Sunday, church members said they were told Egan was placed on unpaid administrative leave, and he would not be returning to St. Stephens.

Coffey said Egan regrets the incident and will be getting help.

“He’s going to address the issues that caused him to do this,” Coffey said. “It was a thoughtless, impulsive act. He was wrong. He’s horrified by what he did. He can’t imagine it, but he’s going to have to get some help, and he will.”

Egan faces up to three years probation and must follow sex offender conditions during that time. His attorney said he will also go through therapy.

Church members said they were glad Egan is getting help instead of jail time.

His sentencing is scheduled for July 25.