PRIEST PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING DATE-RAPE DRUG

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Reuters) - A 31-year-old Roman Catholic priest pleaded
guilty on Wednesday to conspiring with five other men to manufacture and
distribute the illegal drug commonly known as the "date-rape drug." Rev.
Jeffrey Windy of rural central Illinois admitted to the scheme to make
gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GBH, which is called the date-rape drug because
it can incapacitate its user and is used in sexual assaults on unsuspecting
victims. Windy, who was suspended from his priestly duties when he was
arrested last year, remained free on bond after his appearance before U.S.
District Court Judge Harold Vietor. He could face up to 20 years in prison
and $1 million in fines at his Aug. 22 sentencing.

Prosecutors said undercover agents bought the drug from Windy's conspirator
Timothy O'Brien, 34, and that he and Windy were seen making the drug. One
of the drug's ingredients was delivered to a church where Windy worked in
Sheffield, Illinois.

At the time of Windy's arrest, prosecutors said he was apparently driven by
greed after witnessing the immense profits available from the drug's sale.