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Palm Beach County Priest Accused of Showing Kiddie Porn to Teen Boy
A West Palm Beach priest was arrested for obscenity after police claim he showed child pornography to a teen boy from his parish.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies said the priest showed a 14-year-old boy child pornography on his cell phone after Mass on Sunday.
According to an arrest report, the man asked the boy to help him delete files off his phone. The two allegedly met after the service and the boy found an estimated 40 pornographic images of young boys between the ages of 10 and 18 on the man’s phone.
The boy told police he gave the phone back to the man and immediately told a friend. Word of the incident travelled back to the boy’s father who called deputies after the family returned home from Mass.
According to reports, the priest sent the boy a Facebook message later that same evening that read, “Goodnight, sweet dreams.”
According to police, the priest told deputies Monday that he specifically asked the boy to help him remove the pornographic images from his phone.
Police charged the priest with obscenity, and he is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Sex crimes have much more severe consequences than other criminal convictions. Sex offender listings are publicized after prison release, and being labeled a sex offender means your living areas are restricted and job opportunities are limited. Just simply being in possession of child pornography carries a lengthy prison term.
If you are arrested, or being investigated, for child pornography or any other sex-related crime, a Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help. We recommend that you contact us before answering any questions the police ask you. Early involvement in your case helps us to prepare the strongest criminal defense on your behalf. We will work aggressively to have your case dropped before any charges are filed. If charges have already been filed, we will work diligently to have charges reduced, if possible. For a free consultation, call us today at 866-608-5529 or toll-free at 866-608-5529.
