Local Episcopal priest sentenced in child pornography case

PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review

By Patrick Cloonan

Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2014

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.

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