SAN DIEGO (CA)
North County Times
By: North County Times wire services
SAN DIEGO - A Roman Catholic priest from Point Loma, included in an international probe of child pornography, pleaded innocent Wednesday to misdemeanor possession of child porn charges and was jailed on $40,000 bail.
The Rev. Gary Michael Holtey, 59, was ordered into custody by San Diego Superior Court Commissioner Robert C. Rice despite arguments from defense attorney Daniel Williams that the defendant traveled from a Maryland rehabilitation center to make his court appearance.
Agents searched the the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and Academy parish office on May 6 and found printouts of child erotica and pornography, gay porn videos, film negatives of nude men and computer equipment, according to court documents.
"The defendant has a sexual preference for young boys," said Deputy City Attorney Judy Taschner, in arguing for $50,000 bail. "All minors are potential victims in his presence."
Taschner said Holtey left the state during the investigation, and authorities consider the defendant a flight risk and a danger to young boys he might come into contact with.
But Williams said the San Diego Catholic Diocese in providing financial and emotional support for Holtey's stay at the Maryland rehabilitation facility, where he is getting counseling.
Posted by kshaw at December 23, 2004 08:30 AM