BELLEVILLE (IL)
Associated Press
Nov. 12, 2019
A priest who served at several Southern Illinois parishes has pleaded guilty to the distribution of child pornography and the possession of methamphetamine.
The Rev. Gerald Hechenberger faces up to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to three counts of possessing pornographic photos of children and one count of possession of methamphetamine.
Hechenberger was arrested at Holy Childhood Church in Mascoutah by Belleville police on Jan. 8, 2018, after they received a tip from the organization Internet Crimes Against Children. He was stripped of his priestly duties the same day.
Hechenberger had been serving as an associate pastor of Holy Childhood of Jesus Parish in Mascoutah, St. Pancratius Parish in Fayetteville and St. Liborius Parish in St. Libory when he was arrested.
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