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Arrested cardinal had blood alcohol level double legal limit in Kona

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / JULY 2004

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports 79-year-old Cardinal William Joseph Levada of Menlo Park, California, pleaded no contest Jan. 25.

HILO >> A man who was once one of the highest-ranking American officials of the Roman Catholic Church had a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit when he was arrested in August.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports 79-year-old Cardinal William Joseph Levada of Menlo Park, California, pleaded no contest Jan. 25.

Police say Levada was driving on the Big Island when a Kona patrol officer saw him swerve and stopped him.

Court records say the cardinal’s blood alcohol level was .168.

His driver’s license was revoked for a year.

He was ordered to pay a fine and fees totaling $462.

Levada must also pursue any recommended substance abuse treatment.

The case is scheduled for a July 8 proof of compliance hearing.

Levada said in a statement after his arrest that he regretted his error in judgment.

10 responses to “Arrested cardinal had blood alcohol level double legal limit in Kona”

  1. Bdpapa says:

    Poor judgement on his part. He needs time to realize what he really has done. Its like if Obama got caught fro DUI. Don’t think that would happen but some people believe in these guys!

  2. Marauders_1959 says:

    “error in judgment” LOL, what a cop out.
    So if I beat someone up and apologize because of my “error in judgment” you’d forgive me ?

  3. wrightj says:

    A 79 year old man with a .168 BAC ? Incredible!

  4. HAJAA1 says:

    What…..no wine jokes??

  5. MANDA says:

    DUI is one of the few crimes committed by many people who consider themselves law-abiding citizens. For those who drink alcohol, it will be a rare person who has never ever driven impaired.

  6. Mr Mililani says:

    At least he didn’t get caught sexually molesting innocent little boys like the rest of the Catholic clergy. They have already paid out billions to their sex abuse victims with no end in sight.

  7. copperwire9 says:

    This happened 8 months ago? And his compliance hearing is in July, 3 months from now?

    Slow, slooooooooow news day?

  8. Dawg says:

    Seems like the Catholic Church suffers from a ‘Holier then thou” complex. Fry his A-R-S-E!

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