Former Louisville priest indicted on child porn charges

Published: Nov. 3, 2015 at 9:38 PM EST|Updated: Nov. 10, 2015 at 9:38 PM EST
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Parents of students at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School are demanding officials turn over...
Parents of students at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School are demanding officials turn over pictures of their children taken by former priest, Stephen Pohl, who pleaded guilty to child pornography earlier this month. (Source: LMDC)

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The priest at the center of a child pornography case has been indicted by a grand jury.

Stephen Pohl, former pastor of St. Margaret Mary parish in Louisville, was charged with violating federal child exploitation laws on Nov. 3 in United States District Court.

The indictment accuses Pohl, 57, of knowingly viewing child porn on the internet between Jan. and Aug. 2015.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Parishioners support Louisville priest accused in child porn case, arrested in FL]

A parent whose child attends St. Margaret Mary complained the student was uncomfortable when Pohl asked him/her to pose for a picture. Pohl was immediately investigated by the FBI and Louisville Metro Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit.

He then resigned from St. Margaret Mary and was arrested in Florida a short time later.

Detectives found pictures of students on Pohl's computer, but the children were all fully clothed. At the same time, church leaders announced that porn was found during the investigation.

Pohl was originally charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 21, 2015.

He will face trial. If convicted, Pohl faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of probation.

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