NEW BEDFORD (MA)
The Herald News
Gregg M. Miliote, Herald News Staff Reporter 01/19/2005
NEW BEDFORD --The city pastor already charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography is now also being accused of exhibiting or posing at least one child engaged in a sexual act.
Although a spokesman from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office refused to comment on the new allegations against Father Stephen A. Fernandes, the veteran Roman Catholic priest has been indicted by a Bristol County grand jury on a new charge of exhibiting or posing a child engaged in a sexual act.
"The case file has been impounded," said District Attorney spokesman Joseph DeMedeiros. "Unfortunately, I can’t comment on this at all."
The new indictment, handed down late last week, was announced in Superior Court during Fernandes’ arraignment Tuesday morning.
The pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish had already been charged with possession of child pornography and disseminating child pornography after he was indicted by a separate grand jury late last year.