Catholic School Parents Want Convicted Priest's Photos Released

By David Scott
WDRB
January 15, 2016

http://www.wdrb.com/story/30971563/catholic-school-parents-want-convicted-priests-photos-released

In August, Louisville priest Stephen Pohl was arrested and charged with accessing child pornography on a computer belonging to the Archdiocese of Louisville.

But detectives say they found more than 150 other pictures, taken by Pohl, of students at St. Margaret Mary School -- where he served as pastor. Court records said the kids were clothed, though in some, their underwear was visible.

Investigators said in court they don't consider those photos child porn, but do say children were in "sexually arousing positions."

Since then, parents at the school have started a petition with more than 100 signatures demanding St. Margaret Mary and the U.S. Attorney's office release the photos.

The parish sent a letter home Thursday saying it does not and has not had access to the photos.

The U.S. Attorney's office released a statement as well saying, "the United States Attorney's Office will preserve the images while sorting through logistical steps to identify every affected child and notify the parents."

Last week, Pohl pleaded guilty to the child porn charges but did not face charges for the photos he took.

"What father Pohl plead guilty to was going on the internet and viewing images of minors exposing themselves to the camera," Pohl's attorney Ted Shouse said on Jan. 4.

The investigation started after a 10-year-old at St. Margaret Mary told his parents he felt "weird" after Pohl took several photos of him.

According to court documents, that sparked the investigation that included searching Pohl's computers where detectives found the child porn.

Stephen Pohl is expected to be sentenced on March 29.