Priest Arraigned on Child-Porn, Theft Charges

By Jack Minch
Sentinel and Enterprise
December 25, 2012

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_22257899/priest-arraigned-child-porn-theft-charges

WORCESTER -- A priest who fled the country after being charged with possession of child pornography and stealing from his Fitchburg church, was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court Monday.

Judge Richard Tucker ordered the Rev. Lowe Dongor held on $500,000 cash bail or $5 million surety.

If he makes bail, Dongor must stay away from St. Joseph Church and children under 16 years old. He is also forbidden from using the Internet, said Paul Jarvey, spokesman for District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

The FBI tracked Dongor to his native Philippines, where he was arrested and extradited to Los Angeles on Dec. 10, then sent back to Massachusetts.

The Diocese of Worcester offices were closed for the Christmas holiday, so nobody was available for comment Monday.

After the intake process and classification at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction in West Boylston, Dongor may be allowed to attend Mass but will not be leading any services, said David H. Tuttle, spokesman for Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis.

"He may be able to attend service tomorrow with other inmates, but he will not be leading or saying any services at the jail," Tuttle said. "He will be treated like any other pretrial inmate that we have."

Classification is meant to ensure inmates are put in appropriate housing, where they will be safe and their needs met.

Bishop Robert J. McManus normally says Christmas Mass at the jail.

A computer technician who had

seen Dongor's computer notified police in June 2011 that he allegedly saw pornographic pictures of preteen girls stored.

Dongor allegedly admitted to police in July 2011 that he bought the images online and downloaded them to his computer.

He allegedly admitted to stealing from the church regularly since his appointment in 2010 so that he could send the money to his family.

The diocese put Dongor on administrative leave in July 2011, and he was arraigned in Fitchburg District Court for larceny over $250, larceny from a building and possession of child pornography Sept. 10, 2011.

He was released on the promise to return for his next scheduled court date Oct. 25, 2011, but instead Dongor skipped the country.

McManus started the process of defrocking Dongor a year ago, but the Vatican has not made a decision.



Contact: jminch@sentinelandenterprise.comsenlandenterprise.