ST. LOUIS — A priest who previously worked at a Catholic school in St. Louis County has been sentenced to two years of probation for stalking a woman and hiding in the bushes outside her home.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that 37-year-old Michael McCusker was sentenced Wednesday. He was once a theology teacher at St. Louis Priory School in Creve Coeur.

McCusker pleaded guilty in January to two misdemeanor counts of second-degree stalking and resisting arrest. Among other conditions, McCusker is prohibited from contact with the victim.

Police in Richmond Heights, another St. Louis suburb, were called to a home in February 2019, where a woman reported a man looking through her window. Police said McCusker was seen hiding in the bushes and tried to run.

McCusker’s attorney, Jesse Ullom, said McCusker is still a priest and hopes to join the armed forces and become a chaplain.

Priory headmaster Gregory Mohrman said in a statement that McCusker “will resume residency in another state for the indefinite future,” and will live in “a safe environment under supervision.”

“At no point will he be resident on campus or resume working at Saint Louis Priory School,” Mohrman’s statement said.

Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesn’t come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux by giving a small amount monthly, or with a onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.