Local Episcopal priest sentenced in child pornography case

By Patrick Cloonan
Tribune-Review
April 23, 2014

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmckeesport/yourmckeesportmore/5991529-74/appel-child-episcopal#axzz2zhoPAtck

An Episcopal priest known in the Mon-Yough area for his work as a Pittsburgh oldies disc jockey was sentenced to five years in prison for downloading child pornography.

In Pittsburgh on Tuesday Chief U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence as well as a 10-year probation to follow on the Rev. Charles W. Appel Jr., 72, of Ben Avon.

Appel pleaded guilty to receiving video depicting sexual exploitation of minor boys from a Canadian firm, Azov. He was indicted on Sept. 26, 2013, on charges of receiving such videos on 29 occasions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted the case, brought as part of the eight-year-old federal Project Safe Childhood initiative aimed at combatting child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Appel was known for oldies shows on various radio stations, most recently on WLSW-103.9 in Scottdale, and for spinning records at such places as the Palisades in McKeesport.

Appel canceled a show at the Palisades on the day after he was indicted.

Other stations where Appel worked included old WKPA-1150 in New Kensington (now WGBN) and WPSL-1510 in Monroeville (now WPGR).

Ironically, a www.theapplecorps.com website began streaming vintage Appel shows on Monday night.

The “corps” is described on Facebook as “made up primarily of listeners and former listeners to the Charlie Apple Show” over more than 40 years.