MARTHA'S VINEYARD (MA)
Boston Herald
By Laurel J. Sweet
Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - Updated: 12:12 PM EST
Prince Bader Al-Saud, meet the Rev. Stephen Fernandes.
Fernandes, 55, a New Bedford Catholic priest convicted of child pornography charges, was sentenced yesterday to eight months in the “country club” of cans — the tony Dukes County Jail and House of Correction on Martha’s Vineyard.
At Fernandes’ request, and over the staunch objection of Bristol District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr., Barnstable Superior Court Judge Robert Kane banished the pervert priest to the island retreat that earlier this month became the new home of Al-Saud, a 23-year-old Saudi royal who pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide while drunken driving.
“It’s sickening,” an outraged Walsh said yesterday. “Could we do anything more for this defendant (Fernandes)? Why don’t we get him a computer while we’re at it?”
Fernandes stockpiled on the rectory computer hundreds of images and videos with sound effects of young boys undressing and having sex. The Our Lady of Fatima Church priest also pretended to be a girl online so that a teenage boy would frolic nude for him in front of a camera. He will be eligible for parole in three months.