U.S. Priest Who Scuffled with Colleague to Enter Treatment

NEW YORK – A Catholic priest in New Jersey accused of attacking another cleric with a metal crucifix entered a one-year program of probation and counseling, the U.S. press reported.

Successful completion of the pre-trial intervention program will enable the Rev. Frank Hreno, 51, to have the charges against him dropped.

The incident occurred last April during an argument between Hreno and 37-year-old Rev. Emeka Okwuosa at the Vocationist Fathers Retreat and Conference Center in Florham Park, New Jersey.

The two priests were quarreling about an automobile that Hreno had leased.

Okwuosa said Hreno struck him on the arm with a metal staff 1.2 meters (almost 4 feet) long bearing a crucifix, leaving a cut that required 29 stitches.

Because it was Hreno’s first offense, the judge was amenable to his entering the pre-trial intervention, defense attorney Peter Gilbreth told the Daily Record newspaper.