Chesco Priest Who Once Served in Delco Faces Child Porn Charges

By Michael N. Price
Daily Times
October 24, 2014

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20141024/chesco-priest-who-once-served-in-delco-faces-child-porn-charges

REV. MARK HAYNES ... Faces child porn charges

Chester County detectives have arrested a 55-year-old priest who formerly served at three Delaware County parishes, for possessing and electronically distributing child pornography via email and Instagram, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced Friday .

The Rev. Mark Haynes, who was parochial vicar at SS. Simon and Jude parish in Westtown Township from Sept. 3, 2013, until his arrest Thursday, served at St. Pius X parish in Marple from 2001 to 2005, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Morton postal section of Ridley Township from 2005 to 2009 and at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Havertown section of Haverford from 2009 to 2013.

He was immediately placed on administrative leave Thursday and no longer resides at SS. Simon and Jude parish, said Kenneth Gavin, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Haynes was arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Justice Thomas Tartaglio and charged with two counts each of dissemination of child pornography, possession of child pornography and criminal use of a communications device. Haynes was committed Thursday to Chester County Prison for failing to post 10 percent of $200,000 bail.

“Every person who possesses child pornography is violating the rights and dignity of these young victims,” said Hogan. “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.”

In a prepared statement, archdiocesan officials called the charges against Haynes “serious and disturbing” and said they are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities in the case.

“Child pornography is a scourge that must be eradicated,” they said.

Acting on a tip received Sept. 29 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Chester County Det. Joseph R. Walton commenced an investigation into two images of naked under-age girls posted on Instagram under the name “Katie.”

The photographs were of a girl under 14 years old. She was posing nude in one picture. The other photograph was a close-up of her genital area. Walton traced the email account, irishwit2@gmail.com, to SS. Simon and Jude parish and initially suspected it belonged to a student at the parish school, but the pastor identified the user of the email address as Haynes, who resided at the parish rectory.

When interviewed Wednesday by the detective, Haynes admitted to possessing and disseminating child pornography through Instagram and an email account using his computer and other electronic devices between 50 and 100 times, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Walton said Haynes had been posing as a 16-year-old girl when exchanging lewd emails with a 14-year-old girl that investigators are attempting to identify. The priest’s electronic devices were seized and are being reviewed.

“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,” said archdiocesan officials in a prepared statement.

In 2013, between serving at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish and SS. Simon and Jude, Haynes, who was ordained in 1985, was on personal leave. He was also on personal leave from 2000 to 2001.

In addition to the three Delaware County parishes, Haynes has served at: St. Ann, Phoenixville, Chester County from 1985 to 1989; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Doylestown, Bucks County from 1989 to 1991; St. John of the Cross, Roslyn, Montgomery County from 1991 to 1994; and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Southampton, Bucks County from 1994 to 2000.

Haynes also served as chaplain at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Montgomery County, from 1990 to 1991, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Youth and Young Adults from 1990 to 1992 and in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Metropolitan Tribunal from 1992 to 2001.

“This investigation is ongoing. Given the number of parishes to which the defendant was assigned and his close proximity to children, we are concerned that other victims are out there. Anybody with information should come forward immediately,” said Hogan.

Anyone with information regarding the case should call Chester County Det. Joseph Walton at 610-344-4625. Chester County Deputy District Attorney Deborah Ryan from the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit has been assigned to prosecute the case.