Former Waterford Priest Charged with Having Child Pornography

By David Owens
Hartford Courant
July 3, 2012

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-waterford-priest-arrested-0704-20120703,0,642563.story

WATERFORD —

A former priest at St. Paul Parish in Waterford has been charged by state police with first-degree possession of child pornography.

The Rev. Dennis Carey, 65, turned himself in to state troopers Tuesday and is to be arraigned in Superior Court in New London. His bail was $100,000.

Carey on Friday submitted his resignation as pastor of St. Paul to the Diocese of Norwich and it was immediately accepted.

State police said their investigation began after Los Angeles police contacted them about a child pornography investigation with a possible suspect in Connecticut. On June 28 state police seized computers and other evidence from the St. Paul parish rectory in Waterford. Review of those computers led to the warrant for Carey's arrest.

America Online had submitted a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the possibility that child pornography had been transmitted via AOL linked to the rectory.

State police said the investigation is continuing and asked that anyone with information related to the case contact them at 860-685-8190

Carey was ordained a priest in 1998 after a 25-year career as a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Carey's lawyer, Ronald F. Stevens, said Tuesday before Carey's arraignment that has resigned from the church.

"He did what he thought was the right thing to do," Stevens said. "He didn't want to bring on more problems for the church."

Stevens said Carey plans to post bail and immediately see a psychiatrist. Carey has a host of medical ailments, is lawyer added. Carey just completed chemotherapy for colon cancer, is diabetic and recently suffered a heart attack.

The Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, said through a spokesman that he learned of Carey's arrest Tuesday morning.

"These allegations are extremely serious and run contrary to everything we believe as a church," Cote said in a statement. "To exploit children in that fashion is absolutely reprehensible. We pray the allegations are not true.

"This is a sad moment for all of us. We always hope we will never again hear about any investigations or allegations of misconduct by priests. For the parish community, for the priests of the diocese, and for me personally, it is extremely difficult. We are all saddened and deeply hurt."

Cote praised state police for their professionalism and pledged the support and cooperation of the diociese.

The Rev. Joseph Whittel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Quaker Hill section of Waterford will serve as interim parish administrator at St. Paul, Cote said.

Contact: dowens@courant.com