Norwich Diocese Priest Faces Child Porn Accusation
By Adam Benson
New London, Conn. — The former pastor of a Roman Catholic church in Waterford turned himself in to state police Tuesday morning after learning they had a warrant for his arrest on one count of first-degree possession of child pornography. Dennis Carey, 65, of 191 High St., Apt. 4A, in East Hartford, was arraigned in New London Superior Court later in the day, where his case was transferred to Part A court for serious felonies. He was released on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. According to police, he told authorities he is addicted to child pornography. He was ordered to have no contact with minors and not to use computers. "Father Carey stated that he has an addiction to the child pornography and has tried to stop viewing it many times in the past," his arrest affidavit says. "Father Carey stated that he has deleted many of the files because he knows that it is wrong." Authorities say they found 338 files of suspected child pornography. The images and videos depicted boys and girls who appeared to be younger than 16, the affidavit says. Police said Carey told them he has never had sexual contact with a child. He said he started viewing child pornography two years ago, authorities said. His attorney said Carey plans to see a psychiatrist immediately. Carey resigned as pastor of St. Paul in Chains Church last week. The Rev. Joseph Whittel, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Quaker Hill, will take over as interim parish administrator, diocesan officials announced Tuesday. In a prepared statement, the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, said the allegations against Carey are a "sad moment for all of us." "These allegations are extremely serious and run contrary to everything we believe as a church. To exploit children in that fashion is absolutely reprehensible. We pray the allegations are not true," Cote said. "We are all saddened and deeply hurt." Investigation began in L.A. State police in Connecticut have been investigating Carey since May 29, when they were contacted by the Los Angeles Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to a press release issued Tuesday. Police tracked Carey through an AOL email account and obtained a search warrant on June 28, when computers and computer-related devices were seized as evidence from the parish rectory. State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Carey was taken into custody "without incident" at Troop E in Montville. Cote said the diocese will cooperate fully and support police as their investigation continues. "For the parish community, for the priests of the diocese and for me personally, it is extremely difficult," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The former pastor of a Roman Catholic church in Waterford turned himself in to state police Tuesday morning after learning they had a warrant for his arrest on one count of first-degree possession of child pornography. Dennis Carey, 65, of 191 High St., Apt. 4A, in East Hartford, was arraigned in New London Superior Court later in the day, where his case was transferred to Part A court for serious felonies. He was released on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. According to police, he told authorities he is addicted to child pornography. He was ordered to have no contact with minors and not to use computers. "Father Carey stated that he has an addiction to the child pornography and has tried to stop viewing it many times in the past," his arrest affidavit says. "Father Carey stated that he has deleted many of the files because he knows that it is wrong." Authorities say they found 338 files of suspected child pornography. The images and videos depicted boys and girls who appeared to be younger than 16, the affidavit says. Police said Carey told them he has never had sexual contact with a child. He said he started viewing child pornography two years ago, authorities said. His attorney said Carey plans to see a psychiatrist immediately. Carey resigned as pastor of St. Paul in Chains Church last week. The Rev. Joseph Whittel, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Quaker Hill, will take over as interim parish administrator, diocesan officials announced Tuesday. In a prepared statement, the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, said the allegations against Carey are a "sad moment for all of us." "These allegations are extremely serious and run contrary to everything we believe as a church. To exploit children in that fashion is absolutely reprehensible. We pray the allegations are not true," Cote said. "We are all saddened and deeply hurt." Investigation began in L.A. State police in Connecticut have been investigating Carey since May 29, when they were contacted by the Los Angeles Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to a press release issued Tuesday. Police tracked Carey through an AOL email account and obtained a search warrant on June 28, when computers and computer-related devices were seized as evidence from the parish rectory. State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Carey was taken into custody "without incident" at Troop E in Montville. Cote said the diocese will cooperate fully and support police as their investigation continues. "For the parish community, for the priests of the diocese and for me personally, it is extremely difficult," he said.
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