Bergen Priest Wanted In PA On Child Porn Charges Arrested

By Daniel Hubbard
Patch
October 26, 2016

http://patch.com/new-jersey/oakland/bergen-priest-wanted-pa-child-porn-charges-arrested

A Roman Catholic priest from Mahwah has been arrested on 40 child sexual abuse counts for allegedly possessing and disseminating child pornogaphy, authorities announced Wednesday.

Kevin A. Gugliotta, 54, was charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography and 20 counts of dissemination of child pornography, the result of a multi-county and multi-state investigation, Janine Edwards, Wayne County Pennsylvania District Attorney said in a news release.

Gugliotta serves as a priest at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Union, Edwards said.

Gugliotta was charged as the result of an investigation that began in August when detectives in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, received a report of child pornography being uploaded to an internet chat room from a specific IP address, which was registered to Gugliotta, who had a residence in Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania.

Detectives called Holy Spirit church and spoke to Gugliotta, who said he was unable to come back to Pennsylvania until the following Monday, and described the Wayne County apartment as his "day off place" where he goes on his time off.

The Archdiocese of Newark issued a statement Wednesday morning from James Goodness, vice chancellor and director of communications, saying Gugliotta had been removed from his ministry position. The Archdiocese ordered Gugliotta to vacate his most recent parish assignment, and keep the Archdiocese and law enforcement informed of his whereabouts while the authorities in Pennsylvania continued developing their case.

"Father Gugliotta's activities are alleged to have occurred in Pennsylvania, where he maintains a vacation home, using his personal laptop. There are no allegations that he may have engaged in similar activities in New Jersey," Goodness said. "The Archdiocese of Newark takes very seriously any and all complaints of sexual misconduct by members of the Clergy, Religious and lay staff of the Archdiocese, its parishes and schools.

Gugliotta is also a high-stakes poker player. According to the poker database The Hendon Mob, Gugliotta has won nearly $200,000.