Louisville priest scheduled to be sentenced on child porn charges, WDRB (March 29, 2016)

Louisville priest scheduled to be sentenced on child porn charges

WDRB
March 29, 2016

http://www.wdrb.com/story/31586560/louisville-priest-scheduled-to-be-sentenced-on-child-porn-charges

[with video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville priest who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges is scheduled to be sentenced.

Father Stephen Pohl accepted a plea deal in January. He faces years in jail, lifetime supervision, and he'll also have to register as a sex offender.

Earlier this year, Stephen Pohl appeared in federal court to change his plea to guilty. He did this to avoid a trial.

Pohl used to be a pastor at St. Margaret-Mary Parish. Court documents show the investigation started after a student told his parents Pohl took pictures of him and it felt "weird."
A search warrant turned up photos of students at the parish's school. But the pictures were not considered child pornography. Investigators also discovered Pohl viewed child porn online.

If the judge doesn't sentence Pohl to what's laid out in the plea deal, he can retract his guilty plea and opt for a trial. As far as the pictures of students go, authorities say they were fully clothed. Parents say they wasn't to see them, so they can decide whether their children need counseling.