URBANA - A priest who once served at Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal posted $5,000 bond Thursday afternoon and was released from jail on charges he sold drugs. | Epiphany pastor: 'If it's true, it's dreadful'

The Rev. Christopher Layden was arrested Wednesday after University of Illinois police searched the St. John's Catholic Newman Center and Layden's personal residence at the rectory across the street from the student center.

Police collected about three grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, including a scale, according to police reports.

Christopher Layden

Layden faces two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, all within 1,000 feet of a church.

If convicted, Layden could receive six to 30 years in prison on the more serious charges.

Initial information from police does not point to students as Layden's alleged customers.

"We have no information that tells us that he was selling to students," said Champaign police Lt. Roy Acree.

Layden is the only suspect in the drug case, which remains under investigation, said Acree.

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria suspended Layden on Thursday from all pastoral duties. The diocese is cooperating with police in the investigation.

Layden was assigned to the Normal parish from 2003 to 2005 and assisted at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Downs. He taught at Central Catholic High School, Bloomington, before leaving for the Urbana student center.

Layden, a native of Hoopeston, was ordained in 2001 and has served at churches in the Quad Cities and Ottawa.