Deacon William Kokesch Released on Bail
By Monique Beaudin and Marian Scott
MONTREAL – A West Island church deacon facing child-pornography charges was granted bail Thursday, as Montreal police said they are investigating new information related to his case. William Kokesch, 65, was released on $10,000 bail with several restrictions imposed by a judge. He was arrested Friday after police seized more than 2,000 computer files and messages left on Internet chat sites while executing search warrants at his home and the Beaconsfield church where he served as a deacon. Kokesch has been charged with production and distribution of child pornography. Crown Prosecutor Dominique Potvin said Kokesch also will be charged with possession of child pornography. Wearing a grey sweater, jeans and glasses, Kokesch stood with his wrists handcuffed as Quebec Court Judge Louise Villemure told him he would be released from jail. She imposed several conditions, including that he not be in the presence of children under the age of 18 unless an adult who has been informed of his bail conditions is present, not use any computers, or cameras or cellphones that could be used to take photos, and remove Internet access from his home. There is a publication ban on evidence presented at Kokesch’s bail hearing. Potvin said the fact that the Crown went ahead with a bail hearing shows that it believed there were good reasons for Kokesch to be detained. He said the conditions put in place by the judge are normal in this kind of case. “There are restrictive conditions, and we hope it will be all right,” he said. Defence lawyer Jeffrey Boro said he does not think Kokesch is a risk to the community. “I believe the type of crime he is charged with is somewhat personal and he’s not been charged with having molested children or any sexual activity whatsoever,” Boro said. Kokesch has no criminal record, Boro said, describing his client as “a good family man.” Kokesch is married with five adult children, and his family supports him, Boro said. His wife and son were present at the bail hearing. Boro said there were concerns for Kokesch’s safety because he was threatened, spit at and shoved around while he was being transported to a court date earlier this week. “This type of crime is not well viewed by the general prison population so I think he would have had certain problems once he got back to jail,” he said. Montreal police say people have provided them with new information since photographs of Kokesch were published on the weekend. Spokesperson Constable Danny Richer said anyone with information can contact police either at their local police station or by calling Info-Crime at 514-393-1133. At this point, Richer said, there is nothing to lead police to believe there are victims in the case, but, he added, the investigation is ongoing. Kokesch was a deacon at St. Edmund of Canterbury Church in Beaconsfield and a former communications director for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is a former journalist who worked at several Montreal media organizations in the 1970s and 1980s, including The Gazette. On Saturday, the Archdiocese of Montreal removed him from all pastoral and ministry activity. “I don’t think anybody could be more shocked than we are,” said Janet Brisse, a warden at the church on Beaconsfield Blvd. at St. Charles Blvd. where Kokesch was active as a deacon until his arrest. His duties included delivering homilies during the mass, assisting with baptisms, and helping on a committee to raise funds for a South American church that needs a new parish hall, church members said. The archdiocese has assigned an additional priest to St. Edmund’s to fill in temporarily for Kokesch, who was active at the church both weekdays and on Sundays, Brisse said. Brisse declined to comment on whether the charges against Kokesch will further tarnish the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church, already shaken by sexual-abuse scandals. “Everybody has free will. If he did (commit a crime), it’s not the church that made him do it,” she said. Brisse described Kokesch as friendly and well-liked. “As little as I knew him, I have nothing except pleasant memories,” she said. Warden Peter Geukers said Kokesch’s arrest has not affected him. “It doesn’t affect me if somebody is a sinner,” said Geukers, 87, who has been involved with the parish since 1956. “It’s very sad. I personally would pray for him if he did a crime,” said Geukers. He said Kokesch’s duties did not include working directly with children, except during mass. Geukers described Kokesch as an excellent speaker whose homilies were much appreciated. Deacon Phil Dunn said he couldn’t believe his ears when he heard of the charges against Kokesch. “It’s been a shakeup for all of us,” said Dunn, 89. “It must be a very difficult time for his family,” he added. Contact: mbeaudin@montrealgazette.com
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