EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Lane County prosecutors have dismissed a felony charge against a Eugene priest charged with paying for sex with an underage girl.
The Register-Guard reports (https://is.gd/X73XZy ) that the move means Daniel MacKay will go to trial on nine misdemeanor charges on Thursday.
The felony charge accused MacKay of attempting to use a minor in the commission of a controlled substance offense, alleging he used an underage girl to help him distribute cocaine.
MacKay is now charged with four counts of prostitution, four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of sexual misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
MacKay is a priest at a Serbian Orthodox church. The Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church has suspended him from church duties pending the outcome of his criminal case.
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Information from: The Register-Guard, https://www.registerguard.com
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