Vince M. Rogers, 36, of St. Joseph, appeared in Platte County Associate Circuit Court Thursday and was found guilty of the Class B misdemeanor of patronizing prostitution. Rogers appeared with his attorney, John P. O’Connor.
Rogers, a priest for St. James Catholic Church in St. Joseph, was arrested on June 9 as part of a multi-jurisdictional prostitution sting conducted in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Rogers received a suspended imposition of sentence and two years probation. As special conditions of his probation, he will be required to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases, obtain counseling, and perform 40 hours of community service. The prosecution recommended this sentence.
Rogers was put on administrative leave by the church after his arrest.
His sentence is the same as the one prosecutors recommended on July 1 against Stephen E. Swingle, 28, who also pleaded guilty to charges resulting from the prostitution sting. Swingle was one four defendants charged while the sting was ongoing. The court followed the prosecutors’ recommendation against Swingle.
Zahnd said his office would recommend the same sentence against the other defendants charged as a result of the sting operation.