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Lawyer For Embattled Boise Priest Calls Disturbing Chat Room Exchanges "Role Play"

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Former Boise priest Thomas Faucher made an appearance in court late last week. He faces numerous counts of sexual exploitation of a child. More details surrounding his posts in internet chat rooms came to light at the hearing.

During the April 13 appearance, Faucher’s lawyer, Mark Manweiler, characterized chat room conversations about violently abusing and killing kids as “role play.” Manweiler says the priest was chatting with a Brazilian author who allegedly contacted Faucher wanting help with a book he was writing. Manweiler framed their conversation as akin to two novelists exchanging cruel plot ideas.

Faucher was arrested in early February and is charged with 24 crimes. According to the Statesman, the man of the cloth is looking at 21 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child and several drug charges.

The 72-year-old priest has been locked up for the past month after his bond was raised to a million dollars.

Prosecutors say Faucher’s devices had around 2,000 graphic images and videos involving children being brutalized. They say the defendant explicitly said online the thought of killing someone excited him.

Faucher’s trial is set to get underway in August.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

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