Local Priest Is Charged with Soliciting Prostitute Pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Among 14 Arrested in Sting in Fort Myers, by Kristen Kridel, Herald-Tribune, May 13, 2006

Local Priest Is Charged with Soliciting Prostitute
Pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Among 14 Arrested in Sting in Fort Myers

By Kristen Kridel kristen.kridel@heraldtribune.com
Herald-Tribune
May 13, 2006

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20060513/NEWS/605130393/1023/SPORTS08

PORT CHARLOTTE -- The pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church was arrested Thursday during a prostitution sting in Fort Myers.

The Rev. Demetrios Kavouras, 68, of Cape Coral, was charged with soliciting prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor.

"Everyone loved and respected him," said parish member John Dietrich. "I can say most people are shocked to hear this."

The Rev. Demetrios Kavouras, 68, has been the church's pastor for eight years.

Kavouras, the church's pastor for eight years, was one of 14 people arrested during the prostitution sting, according to a Fort Myers Police Department press release. Undercover female officers posed as prostitutes.

No additional details about Kavouras' arrest were available Friday because the arresting officer had not yet written the report, said Fort Myers police spokeswoman Maureen Buice.

The parish council met Friday afternoon at the church on Rampart Boulevard and decided to suspend Kavouras pending further investigation, said a council member who would not provide his name.

"We're very upset; it's very shocking," the man said. "We're deeply saddened about the event and the circumstances.

"It's really in the court of the land's hands now," he added. "We have to just see what the judicial outcomes are going to be."

Kavouras could not be reached for comment Friday, but a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report showed that Thursday's arrest was his first in the state.

Dietrich would not disclose whether Kavouras is married, but said priests in the Greek Orthodox religion are allowed to marry.

Holy Trinity, known for hosting the annual Grecian Festival, is a parish with about 100 members, but the number fluctuates because of part-time residents, Dietrich said.

He said most of the church members have probably already heard about the charge against their priest.

But Nick Seda, a member of the church, did not know about the arrest Friday afternoon. He had to hear the news twice for it to register.

"I can't even comment on that," Seda said. "I know nothing about it."

The archdiocese in Atlanta has promised to send another priest to Port Charlotte, the unidentified council member said. The substitute will arrive in time for Sunday's services.