The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Pastor gets 9 months in jail for violating terms of parole
Remanded to Danbury federal prison for violating parole
There was no “salvation” Thursday for disgraced former priest Kevin Wallin.
The once-rising star of the Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocese, whose addiction and drug dealing earned him the nickname “Monsignor Meth,” was denied a chance to better himself through the Salvation Army and was instead sent to federal prison for violating parole.
U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello sentenced Wallin to nine months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury for testing positive on Aug. 10 for amphetamine.
Covello, who rejected a plea to allow Wallin to live, work and continue treatment at a Hartford Salvation Army facility, noted “this gentleman’s history of non-compliance” with the terms of his probation warranted “further deterrence.”
Sex, drugs and drag
The sentence is one more blow to a Roman Catholic Church reeling from recent revelations that more than a 1,000 children were molested by priests in Pennsylvania and similar ongoing allegations across the country.
In 2011, Wallin resigned from the church amidst talk of cross-dressing, drug use, sexual acts with men in the rectory and the discovery of sex toys in his room.
He was convicted in 2015 for selling methamphetamine out of his Waterbury apartment.
The former priest, who taught in Greenwich, helped build churches in Danbury and Bridgeport and was on the fast track to become bishop, was handcuffed Thursday by federal authorities, his light gray suit jacket removed, along with the items in his pockets.
“I’ll be all right,” Wallin said softly to a handful of friends as federal agents led him from the courtroom.
After completing his sentence, Wallin is to be released without further probation, Covello said.
Wallin was originally sentenced to 65 months in federal prison. With time served, his sentence was reduced to 28 months, followed by probation.
But Wallin struggled with addiction while on probation and tested positive for drugs several times.
‘I need help’
Wallin admitted his continued drug use during his court appearance and asked to be sent to the Salvation Army so he could work and receive treatment.
“I don’t wish to continue in this manner,” Wallin said, referring to relapses after rehabilitation attempts.
“I would very much like to take advantage of this program,” Wallin told the judge, referring to the Salvation Army offer.
“I am quite enthusiastic about it,” he said. “I need help and accept that.”
Terence Ward, a federal public defender who represented Wallin, said he would personally drive his client to the Salvation Army.
“I have a bed for Mr. Wallin,” Ward told the judge. “It does not cost taxpayers a dime. Participants sort and clean clothes for sale at thrift stores. There is the availability of appropriate treatment for Mr. Wallin.”
Ward added “Mr. Wallin is an addict; he has a disease. I don’t think anyone could find a benefit from him going to jail.”
U.S. Assistant Attorney Patrick Caruso said Wallin was “way beyond mandatory revocation” of his parole because of repeated violations.
“It’s unfortunate,” Caruso told the judge. “But Mr. Wallin is on a path he put himself on. You gave him one more chance and another violation was beyond the line.”
Wallin’s return to prison Thursday capped a startling fall from grace.
He is a former chaplain of the Order of Malta, a trustee at Sacred Heart University, head of the Inner City Educational and Charities Foundation and a founding member of Connecticut’s AIDS Ministries Program. Wallin served as secretary to Walter W. Curtis and later Edward Egan, both Bridgeport bishops.
The prestigious position is akin to a combined presidential chief of staff and press secretary.