Priest, Alleged Prostitute Faint During Separate Court Appearances

Faced with serious charges, two defendants in separate court appearances Wednesday had difficulty holding their heads high and fainted as they stood before a judge.

In the first incident, an Elgin woman charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery following a fatal shooting at a Schaumburg Tuesday morning fell to the floor as a judge set her bail to $3 million.

"Oh, my god, my baby," cried Theresa De La Rosa as her 28-year-old daughter, Kristian Branch, collapsed, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Just last week, Branch spent two days in the Cook County Jail following a prostitution sting.

Later, a Kane County priest, who earlier this year jumped from a church balcony in an attempt to take his own life after being accused of molesting a child, fainted during a bond reduction hearing.

Father Alejandro Flores was standing before the judge when his knees appeared to buckle and he slumped to the floor.

"He just fainted. He was out," said Flores' attorney, Glenn Sowa, according to the newspaper.

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