Ex-Priest Gave Ammunition, Explosive Powder to 17-Year-Old: Prosecutors

By Gabriella Iannetta
NBC Connecticut
March 8, 2016

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Ex-Priest-Gave-Ammunition-Explosive-Powder-to-17-Year-Old--371439061.html

Rev. Paul Gotta was suspended last year and arrested in March on several sexual assault charges is due in court on Wednesday for pre-trial proceedings.

A former Connecticut priest plead guilty to providing a teenager with ammunition and explosives powder in 2012, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Paul Gotta, 58, who was charged with seven counts of sexual assault two years ago, faces up to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of willfully distributing an explosive material to an individual under the age of 21 years old, according to prosecutors. 

In 2012, Gotta aided a 17-year-old with purchases thousands of rounds of ammunition and on two occasions purchased two pounds of explosives powder in East Windsor for the same teenager, according to court documents. 

Gotta served as administrator of St. Philip Church in East Windsor and St. Catherine Church in Broadbrook until he left in 2012 after being accused of sexual abuse.

Gotta was indicted on six charges including aiding and abetting the unlawful transport of a firearm in interstate commerce, aiding and abetting the possession of a handgun by a juvenile, aiding and abetting the possession of ammunition by a juvenile, distribution of explosive material to an individual under the age of 21, aiding and abetting the attempted manufacture of a pipe bomb, and obstruction of justice but only plead guilty to one charge, prosecutors said.

He will be sentenced on May 19 and could be spend up to ten years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.