Visiting Priest Accused of Exposing a Minor to Porn Is out on Bail

WPTV
January 13, 2015

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/jose-palimattom-visiting-priest-accused-of-exposing-a-minor-to-porn-is-out-on-bail

Palm Beach Co. Sheriff's Office

A 48-year-old visiting priest from India, serving a two-year contract with Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, is out of jail.

Father Jose Palimattom posted bail over the weekend. He was arrested last week on charges of exposing a minor to pornography.

It is not known who posted Palimattom’s bail. Dianne Laubert, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Palm Beach County, said the diocese did not pay Palimattom’s bail.

Laubert said that the diocese removed his priestly faculties, which means that he is prohibited from exercising his priestly ministry.

“Once his faculties are removed, he is not allowed in any diocesan property,” said Laubert.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Palimattom asked an adolescent boy to help him remove items off of his cell phone.

The minor found about 40 pornographic images of nude preteen boys but told the priest he was unable to delete them, the report states. He then reported the incident to the church's music director.

Upon learning about the allegations, the Diocese of Palm Beach immediately contacted authorities. The child’s father also contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office about the incident.

Palimattom admitted to investigators that he asked the minor to remove the images. He also admitted viewing child pornography as a “curiosity” but he denied ever sexually molesting a child, according to the police report.

Palimatton is charged with one count of obscenity-- protection of minors.

It is not known where Palimattom is staying while he awaits trial.