Kc Priest to Plead Guilty in Child Porn Case

KCTV
August 1, 2012

http://www.kctv5.com/story/19168565/kc-priest-to-plead-guilty-in-child-porn-case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Kansas City priest accused of producing and possessing child pornography is scheduled to plead guilty in federal court to at least some of the charges against him.

The Rev. Shawn Ratigan was charged last year with 13 federal child pornography counts and three in Clay County after a computer technician discovered hundreds of troubling images on the 46-year-old priest's laptop in December 2010.

He pleaded not guilty but a change of plea hearing was scheduled in federal court for Thursday.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Bishop Robert Finn and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph with failing to report suspected child abuse to the state, a misdemeanor.

Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial in September.