THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994                TAG: 9408260646
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: DANVILLE                           LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

DANVILLE PRIEST COULD FACE YEAR IN JAIL, FINE IN PROSTITUTION CASE

The Rev. Robert Francis Ruth, priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was charged Thursday with prostitution.

Police Major B.C. Elliott said Ruth, 60, was arrested at his home.

Ruth became the priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the summer of 1991. Before coming to Danville, he was a priest in South Boston and in Brookneal.

After his ordination in 1960, Ruth served parishes in Arlington, Winchester, Portsmouth, Mechanicsville and Keyser, W.Va.

The arrest stems from an Aug. 12 incident in Ballou Park. The charge states that Ruth offered $20 to undercover Detective J.L. Chaney and asked to perform oral sex on the officer.

Ruth was released from jail on $1,000 bond.

The prostitution charge is a misdemeanor. If convicted, Ruth could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined $1,000, or both. by CNB