The defense attorney representing a former Boise Catholic priest accused of possessing thousands of files of child pornography and a litany of illegal drugs has asked for a change in venue, saying his client will not receive a fair trial in Idaho’s 4th Judicial District.

Thomas W. Faucher, 72, is charged with 21 counts of possessing child pornography, as well as drug charges related to the marijuana, LSD and ecstasy that police say they found during a February search of his home, just before his arrest.

In addition, Faucher’s house has since been cleaned out and blessed by an exorcist.

The Idaho Statesman reports Father John Worster, pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Boise who is preparing the property for sale, says he had a diocesan exorcist and his prayer team come and pray over the house.

The Diocese of Boise evicted Faucher from the house soon after he was arrested.

Mark Manweiler, Faucher’s attorney, declined to comment on the exorcism of the church-owned house.

On Thursday, Manweiler, filed a motion asking the judge to move the trial to a different district, or empanel a jury from outside the 4th Judicial District. Faucher would not receive a fair trial in the 4th Judicial District, Manweiler wrote in the motion, “due to the extensive, pre-trial publicity.”

Manweiler also requested a chance to argue the motion in court, although no new hearings appear to have been scheduled, according to the Idaho State Supreme Court’s online repository.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys may file motions for a change in venue if they feel a fair trial is impossible in the case’s current jurisdiction, according to Idaho’s rules for criminal trials. The final decision, however, rests with the judge, who “must” transfer the trial if they are “satisfied that a fair and impartial trial cannot be held in the county where the case is pending.” The current judge may still hear the case in the new jurisdiction, according to the rules, as listed on the Idaho Supreme Court’s website, or they may pass the case off to another judge.

Fourth District Court Judge Jason Scott did not appear to have ruled on the motion Monday, based on information in the repository.

The motion for a change of venue comes more than five months into Faucher’s criminal case, which began after his Feb. 2 arrest, following a search of his home in the area of West Holly Hill Drive and Hill Road. Scott initially set his four-day jury trial for Aug. 6, but during a June court hearing Faucher waived his right to a speedy trial. It meant attorneys would have more time to discuss the case.

At that hearing, Scott moved the trial to Oct. 15, where it remained as of Monday, according to the repository. Faucher is scheduled to appear in court before then though, at an 11 a.m. Sept. 28 pre-trial conference.

Meanwhile, he remains in the Ada County jail, with his bail set at $1 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.