GREELEY — The Rev. Robert Whipkey, a Catholic priest accused of walking naked down a Frederick street in June, has pleaded not guilty to indecent exposure.
Whipkey, 54, entered the plea Tuesday in Weld County Court.
A motions hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31, and trial is set for March 25 before Weld County Judge Charles Unfug.
Whipkey, the pastor for three Roman Catholic churches — in Frederick, Mead and Erie — was stopped by Frederick police at 4:30 a.m. June 22 for allegedly walking down the street naked. He told police he had been jogging at the Frederick High School track and was walking home.
“I’m a heavy man and wearing clothing while running makes me sweat profusely,” Whipkey said, according to a police report. “I know what I did was wrong.”
In August, the Archdiocese of Denver announced that it had placed Whipkey on administrative leave.
The same day, a lawyer representing Whipkey said the priest deeply regretted any discomfort and embarrassment that the situation had caused Catholics in the archdiocese, his family or anyone else.
Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post
