BENET LAKE – The Antioch Police Department has charged Thomas M. Chmura, a Benedictine monk at St. Benedict’s Abbey, with disorderly conduct and attempted child abduction.
Chmura, 57, was arrested Friday night, April 26, for an incident that was reported to have occurred the previous night in which a female student at Antioch Community High School reported that a man fitting the description of Chmura had invited her to get into his car. In an incident that reportedly occurred Friday afternoon, he allegedly attempted to lure three females into his car.
According to the Antioch Police Department report, during an investigative stop following the second incident, the monk admitted that on Thursday night “he was just trying to help the girl and did not think he did anything wrong.” He was charged with disorderly conduct and attempted child abduction – a Class 4 felony in Illinois.
Chmura appeared in Waukegan Bond Court Saturday, April 27, where Judge James Simonian remanded him to Lake County jail on a $50,000 cash bond pending his April 30 court appearance. Your Catholic Herald was unable to reach the Bond Court clerk for additional information by press time Tuesday.
Catholic Herald calls seeking comment from leadership at St. Benedict’s Abbey on Monday and Tuesday were not returned.
