News

February 13, 2010

Area priest faces drug charge

From staff and wire reports

PHILADELPHIA – A Diocese of Scranton priest is facing drug possession charges after police say he was caught buying cocaine in North Philadelphia.

Fifty-year-old James B. Shimsky, of Harrison Avenue, Scranton, was arrested last month, Philadelphia police said in a news release Friday.

Police said they saw a man in a Jeep Liberty engage in a drug transaction the morning of Jan. 30 in the 3300 block of North Fifth Street. Narcotics officers stopped the vehicle and found a small amount of cocaine inside.

Diocesan spokesman William Genello said Shimsky, who was ordained in 2001, most recently has been pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, Montdale, in Scott Township, and has been on a leave of absence since his arrest.

“This is an unfortunate situation,” Genello said in an e-mail Friday evening. “We hope it can be resolved.”

Father Albert P. Leonard, who was assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Williamsport, and St. Luke Parish, Jersey Shore, has been appointed administrator of St. John Vianney, effective Feb. 1.

A phone listing for Shimsky could not be found and he couldn’t be reached for comment.

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