Catholic Priest Arrested In Drug Bust At Bethpage Motel, Cops Say

BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) --  A New York priest whose sister was beheaded by her son in 2014 was arrested Wednesday on drug possession charges after he was caught with crack cocaine, police said.

Rev. Robert Lubrano, 63, of Farmingdale, pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance after being arrested at a motel in Bethpage, Long Island, early Wednesday morning.

According to police, Lubrano was seen exchanging money with Michael Oyola, 32, of the Bronx, in the parking lot of the Bethpage Motel on Hempstead Turnpike shortly after midnight on January 6.

Police said Lubrano then entered the motel, where he was arrested without incident. During the arrest, police said they recovered a small, yellowish rock-like substance, which is believed to be crack cocaine. A silver metal pipe containing what police believe to be crack cocaine residue was also recovered, police said.

"I have been smoking crack cocaine ever since my sister was murdered,'' Lubrano told police, according to court papers.

Lubrano's sister, Patricia Ward, was killed in October 2014 by her son, who had a history of psychiatric problems. The 66-year-old professor at Farmingdale State College was decapitated and her lifeless body dragged into the street by her son in front of their home before he walked in front of an oncoming train

"Ms. Ward did meet a very violent end to her life at that time,'' Nassau County Police Det. Richard Lebrun said. "I'm sure it was a very horrible circumstance, but people cope in different ways.''

Lubrano was released without bail after his arraignment on Wednesday. A woman who answered the door at Lubrano's home in Farmingdale on Wednesday afternoon said he had no comment. A spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre said Lubrano has been on leave for five years.

Oyola was pulled over by police after failing to signal when turning out of the parking lot in his vehicle, police said. Upon searching Oyola, police said they found a brown, hand-rolled cigar and a bag of what is believed to be marijuana.

Oyola was arrested and charged with criminal possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

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