Assignment Record– Rev. Stephen A. Pohl Summary of Case: Stephen A. Pohl was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville KY in 1985. He assisted at parishes in Fern Creek, Bardstown and Louisville, and he served for a time as the Archdiocesan Vocations Director. Pohl also pastored parishes in Louisville, Bardstown and St. Thomas. In August 2015 a 10-year-old boy told his parents that Pohl had taken pictures of him and other boys, and that it made him "feel weird." Federal investigators found child pornography on Pohl's computer, and 200 photos of children from his parish, some of them "inappropriate." Pohl was arrested in Florida and charged with accessing child pornography. He pled guilty in January 2016 and was sentenced in March 2016 to 33 months in federal prison, to register as a sex offender, and lifetime probation. He was also fined $7,500. A lawsuit was filed in March 2016 against the archdiocese by parents of a boy victimized by Pohl at age 7 in 2014. Another family whose son was the subject of Pohl's photos during kindergarten in 2014 and 2015 filed suit in August 2016. He was laicized effective February 26, 2017. Ordained: 1985 |
: |
|
| Start | Stop | Assignment | Town/Accusations | State | Position | Notes |
1985 Louisville archbishop was Thomas Cajetan Kelly, O.P. (1981-2007). |
1990 | St. Gabriel the Archangel | Fern Creek |
KY | 2/2 | St. Gabriel's had a school with 632-685 students. |
1990 |
1992 | St. Joseph's | Bardstown | KY | 2/2 | St. Joseph's had a grade school with 378-406 students and a high school with 184-174 students. |
1992 |
1996 | St. Athanasius | Louisville | KY | 2/2 In residence. | St. Athanasius had a school with 376-429 students. |
| 1992 | 1997 | Archdiocesan Vocations Director | Louisville | KY | ||
1996 Kelly was succeeded by Joseph Edward Kurtz (2007-). |
2008 | St. Monica's | Bardstown | KY | 1/1 | St. Monica's had a religious education program with 20 students. |
| 1996 | 2008 | St. Thomas' | St. Thomas | KY | 1/1 | St. Thomas' had a school until 1998 with 109-89 students, and a religious education program with 100-55 students. |
| 2008 | 2015 | St. Margaret Mary's | Louisville • In August 2015 a 10-year-old boy told his parents Pohl took pictures of him and other boys that made him [the boy] "feel weird." The FBI found child porn on Pohl's computer, plus 200 photos of parish children, some deemed |
KY | 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 | St. Margaret Mary's had a school with 723-712 students, and a religious education program with 115-104 students. Pohl resigned from St. Margaret Mary's August 20, 2015 while investigated for child porn, and was placed on leave by the Archdiocese. He was arrested August 21, 2015 in Florida, charged with accessing child pornography. He was released September 3 to home incarceration at his mother's house. Pohl pled guilty January 4, 2016 and was sent to jail. Pohl was sentenced March 29, 2016 to 33 months in prison, lifetime parole, and to register as a sex offender. He was also fined $7,500. The same day as sentencing, the family of a 7-year-old victim filed a suit against the archdiocese. Pohl was laicized February 26, 2017. |
Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1986-2014). • Father Stephen Pohl: Priest Targeted In FBI Kiddie Porn Probe, Placed On Leave By Archdiocese, Inquisitr, August 16, 2015
|