A western Kentucky man has been jailed after strangling a priest during Mass.
The Webster County Sheriff’s Office said that on Friday evening at approximately 7:30, deputies were dispatched to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Sebree after 35-year-old Steven D. Sargent, of Sebree, entered the church wearing only underwear and a t-shirt and strangled the priest, Fr. Carmelo Jimenez.
Upon deputies arriving, parishioners had detained Sargent.
The investigation showed that Sargent “was manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance when he entered the church as the service was about to begin,” the sheriff’s office said. “The suspect began yelling at the priest before physically assaulting him and placing his hands on the neck and throat area of the priest.”
Upon being taken into custody, Sargent told deputies that there was an active methamphetamine lab inside of his residence, and that it was “about to explode.”
Deputies, assisted by Kentucky State Police, arrived at the residence but failed to locate a meth lab.
Sargent was arrested and lodged in Webster County Detention Center where he’s been charged with felony strangulation, fourth-degree assault, first-degree disorderly conduct, and falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement. He’s being held on a $10,000 cash bond.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
