Chesco DA : Ss. Simon and Jude Priest Arrested on Child Porn Charges

By Michael N. Price
Main Line
October 24, 2014

http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2014/10/24/region/doc544aa10248a1a210111923.txt

Westtown >> A Ss. Simon and Jude Parish priest was arrested on Friday amid allegations that he disseminated child pornography on a popular social media site, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Mark Haynes, 55, was charged with sexual abuse of children and related charges after investigators traced images of child pornography that were posted with an Instagram account that was registered to a Simon and Jude email account, officials said. Haynes has served as the parish’s Parochial Vicar since last September. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has assigned Haynes to parishes in Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. He was ordained in 1985.

Law enforcement officials announced the arrest and said the possession of child pornography would not be tolerated.

“Every person who possesses child pornography is violating the rights and dignity of these young victims. Every person who disseminates child pornography is continuing the cycle of depravity that makes children around the world vulnerable. No matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old, clergy or layperson, the possession of child pornography will lead to arrest, shame, and jail,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Since his ordainment in 1985, Haynes has been assigned to eight different parishes, including: St. Ann, in Phoenixville; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in Doylestown; St. John of the Cross, in Roslyn; Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Southampton; St. Pius X, in Broomall; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Morton; and Annunciation B.V.M., in Havertown.

According to a criminal complaint, the Chester County Detectives were investigating an Instagram account that claimed to belong to a 14-year-old girl named Katie that was posting explicit images of children. Detectives tracked the account to an email account that used Ss. Simon and Jude’s name and address in its registration information.

Investigators initially suspected the account belonged to a student at the school, but when they interviewed pastor at the school they learned the email account belonged to Haynes, the complaint said. Investigators later learned that Haynes had posted many other explicit images of child pornography and was also allegedly exchanging lewd emails with an unidentified 14-year-old girl, according to the complaint.

Law enforcement officials said the pastor and other Ss. Simon and Jude officials, along with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, have fully cooperated with the investigation.

On Friday the archdiocese quickly responded to the allegations and said swift action was taken to remove Haynes from the parish.

“These charges are serious and disturbing. The Archdiocese is cooperating fully with law enforcement regarding this matter and remains fervently committed to preventing child abuse as well as protecting the children and young people entrusted to its care. Child pornography is a scourge that must be eradicated,” the archdiocese’s statement said. “There were no prior indications that Father Haynes was involved in activity of this nature. Additionally, no allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have ever been lodged against him.” Continued...

The archdiocese said Haynes was immediately placed on administrative leave after the arrest and said he is no longer residing at the rectory at Ss. Simon and Jude. While on leave he is not permitted to exercise their public ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, or present themselves publicly as priests, church officials said.

Haynes was arraigned on multiple counts of sexual abuse of children and taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $200,000 bail. Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information that may aid police is asked to contact the Chester County Detectives at 610-344-4625.