Montreal Deacon Facing Porn Charges Freed on Bail

Sun News
December 28, 2012

www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2012/12/20121227-183115.html

William Kokesch, a deacon of Montreal, 65, faces charges of production and distribution of child pornography.

QMI AGENCY

MONTREAL - A Montreal deacon charged with producing, possessing and distributing child pornography is free on $10,000 bail.

William Kokesch, 65, and his wife testified at his bail hearing Thursday, but a judge ordered their testimony be banned from publication.

Kokesch's lawyer, Jeffrey Boro, told journalists outside the courtroom that his client has the "support of his family."

Montreal police said they found more than 2,000 images of child pornography after searching Kokesch's home and another location last Friday.

Kokesch has been working as deacon for a west-end Montreal church since 2004. Before that, he worked as a journalist for several large media organizations in the city.

Although Kokesch has been charged with producing child porn, police spokesman Dany Richer said that "for the moment, nothing indicates that there were any victims."

Police told QMI Agency that a charge of producing child porn can be laid against someone for acts such as editing child porn images found on the Internet.

Eric Durocher, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Montreal, told QMI Agency last weekend that as far as the archdiocese knows, "(Kokesch) was never alone with children; there was always another adult present."

Police said people have come forward with information about Kokesch since his arrest on Friday.

The archdiocese announced Saturday afternoon in a news release that it had "removed (Kokesch) from all ministry and pastoral activity."