Conan O'Brien's "Priest Stalker" Charged

(CBS)  A Boston priest was arrested in New York City last week and has been charged with stalking late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien, New York City police said.

Rev. David Ajemian has been placed on leave after he was arrested last Friday, the Archdiocese of Boston announced Wednesday.

Ajemian, 46, remains in the custody of New York City police after he allegedly sent multiple communications to O'Brien over 14 months, police said. They said Ajemian was told to stop with the communications but did not, and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

CBS station WBZ reports that Ajemian is accused of sending O'Brien threatening notes on parish letterhead and contacting his parents.

"I want a public confession before I ever consider giving you absolution - or a spot on your couch," wrote the Rev. David Ajemian, who signed the notes "Padre," said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Court papers say Ajemian referred to himself as "your priest stalker" in one note and complained of not being allowed in to see an earlier taping of the O'Brien show.

"Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans?" the note said.

Ajemian was arrested at 30 Rockefeller Plaza while trying to enter a taping session of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Ajemian was a reverend at St. Patrick's Parish in Stoneham, Mass., from 2005 to May of this year. He has not been reassigned to another parish since May.

New York City police officials said Ajemian is charged with aggravated stalking and harassment. They said he had been sending the popular talk show host e-mails and letters since September 2006.

An NBC spokesman said O'Brien is not commenting on the incident.

The priest could face up to a year in prison if convicted on charges of aggravated harassment and stalking.

The Archdiocese of Boston released a statement saying, "(Fr. Ajemian) is no longer able to exercise public ministry."

The Archdiocese would not give further comment.

Ajemian is a graduate of Harvard and the John XXIII National Seminary and was ordained in May 2001. The New York Times reports that the priest said in his correspondence that he had followed Mr. O'Brien's career since they both attended Harvard.

WBZ correspondent Beth Germano said that parishioners at St. Patrick's in Stoneham are "stunned," and that they described the priest as "a spiritual man."

[keithle1]

The only people I have any respect for are Buddhist monks.

[abb22]

There are some great spiritual leaders out there, but there are also a few who, because of their role feel a sense of entitlement over others. Spiritual leaders are supposed to be more like a spiritual guide, not put themselves in the same position as God. Apparently this priest has a problem with Conan, but that''s not his place to BE God. Everyone has problems with people in their lives, I''m much more angry about priests getting away with molestation for all of these decades. That kind of abuse does lifelong damage to an individual that is so horribly destructive. If he''s going to get angry about some ''immoral'' thing in our society, turn on the news. Fight for missing and exploited children, help people out who are in need. If someone said or wrote, "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans?" I would feel threatened and worry about the safety of my family. This is a threatening statement, it needs to be regarded as a threat. Hiding behind a preists collar does NOT make him immune to the consequences of the law. No one, not even a preist has a right to threaten someone. And since when is threatening and stalking someone LESS immoral than what Conan does on his show? I do admit that I like Conan''s show, yet I''m also a very spiritual person. I guess my values have much less tolerence for threats, harrassment, stalking and violence.

[closethippy1]

From what I read I can''t see anything wrong this priest has done. It''s clear to me he''s just trying to be funny and get his 15 minutes of fame by hopefully appearing on Conan''s show.

People these days are so sensitive they simply can''t tell a joke from a real threat.

[keithle1]

I guess Hermit22 wants TV to be nothing but nature documentaries (watch out for the "foul" footage of lions murdering gazelles) & fundamentalist Jesus Freaks like Creflo Dollar
preaching The Word. Maybe live footage of your county''s monthly meetings of the water board.

I wonder if the high & mighty, all-knowing, all-seeing, Catholic Church can manage to stay out of the news in 2008.

Remind me again why we need the Catholic Church...

[iceman_1960]

"Conan O''Brien''s "Priest Stalker" Charged"

Isn"t Conan O"Brien a little old for this guy ?

[previn2]

I feel that anyone, and ESPECIALLY those in high positions in society, such as law enforcement, clergy, educators and the likes, ought to also be held even more accountable for any improper behavior they inflict on their victims. Punishment should be reverend; swift and harsh!

[hermit22]

much t.v. has become vulgar,bottom feeder "aggravated harrassment" of the culture. i wish someone could and would put the lid on t.v.fools. one guy bothering some t.v. fool and he could get time in the joint? "strain the gnat and swallow the camel". if the "writers" crawled back in the holes where they come from and stayed there, the culture might clean up in a few years. i do not like buying a box of soap or whatever and being forced by that to subsidise all these foul, vulgar fools on television. if we could buy a bar of soap and know that part of that purchase would pay for washing out the dirty mouths on t.v. i''d vote for that. conan o''brien is a blight on the culture. he and the priest should go off into the sunset together.

[keithle1]

Have you hugged your priest today?

[ahpdx]

Can''t believe how many of you anti-religion bigots are out there!

[jennigrl]

c''mon... y''all act like YOU have never had a priest threateningly stalk you... :)