Former Teacher Admits to Engaging in Sex Acts with Eight Teenage Boys from 1973-2005
By Warren Kulo
A 68-year-old teacher who resigned from St. Patrick High School Tuesday has been charged with transporting at least eight boys ages 13-14 to multiple states and engaging in sexual acts with them. According to U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Acting FBI Special Agent In Charge Johnnie Sharp, William Richard Pryor was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday on the St. Patrick campus. The complaint against Pryor alleges that he transported the eight teenage boys to various states from 1973 to 2005 to engage in sex acts. Prior to working at St. Patrick, Pryor worked at St. John High School and Bayou View Middle School, both in Gulfport, although all of the victims were students at Bayou View. In an affidavit accompanying the criminal complaint, FBI agent Matthew Campbell says Pryor confessed to molesting eight boys from 1973 to 2005. At least one incident in the 1990's occurred in Gulfport, Pryor told investigators. In addition, investigators interviewed two of the victims on Aug. 18-19. Both said Pryor took them out of state on "summer trips" where the sexual activity would occur, with one saying there were at least five trips to Louisiana. Other trips during which the abuse took place were to Georgia, Oregon, Colorado, Montana and California. Pryor appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Gargiulo for an initial appearance. He remains in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing next Tuesday. He was turned over to U.S. Marshals after the hearing. If convicted, Pryor faces a possible sentence of 10 years to life in prison. Pryor was working as a math teacher at St. Patrick High School in Gulfport when he was arrested Tuesday. Catholic Diocese of Biloxi Superintendent Mike Ladner said Pryor resigned Tuesday. A federal public defender was assigned to represent Pryor.
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