Church Leader Charged with Child Porn Possession
Many people don’t trust the church anymore. Some people are against religion, while others are wary of the people involved in the church.
Indeed, many church leaders think they are above the law. They think they can engage in serious crimes such as child pornography and not get in trouble.
A church leader in Okaloosa County, Florida is being punished for his child porn crimes. The man was arrested on January 9 after a months-long investigation. He has been charged with 30 counts of child porn possession.
The investigation began in May 2024 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Microsoft about sexual images believed to contain children. The files were being uploaded online by a Bing Image Search user. The NCMEC passed this tip along to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, which started investigating the crime.
The tip led law enforcement to a home on 8th Street in Shalimar, owned by a 64-year-old man who had served as friar of Resurrection Anglican Church since 2010. A search warrant was conducted on January 9 by multiple agencies, including the Internet Crimes Against Children, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, and Homeland Security. During the search, law enforcement located multiple computer storage devices from a desk drawer in the man’s bedroom. The devices were seized and a forensic analysis found them to hold more than 100 files of child porn. One of the files was a video of a young girl who appeared to be as young as 3 years old.
The man admitted to investigators he had a problem with looking at child porn materials. However, he maintained he did not view any sexually explicit materials involving children under the age of 14 years old. The man was arrested following the search and charged with 30 counts of child porn possession.
Religious Views on Pornography
While viewing pornography featuring adults (those over the age of 18) is considered legal, many people view it as immoral. This is especially true among those who are religious. While the Bible does not explicitly forbid porn, many Christians base their views on Matthew 5:27–28, which states that “whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” The Catholic Church states that “pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners.”
While viewing any type of porn is often considered immoral by those who are religious, many still look at it. People are not perfect, regardless of religion. People will still sin and be punished for their sins.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
Possession of child pornography is a crime that many people engage in. However, people tend to forget that it is illegal and frowned upon, especially when it is done by church leaders.
If you have been convicted of such a crime, you need to act quickly. A Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit will provide you with respectful, confidential, and non-judgmental representation. Schedule a consultation with our office today by filling out the online form or calling (352) 505-1799.
Source:
wtvy.com/2025/01/10/florida-church-leader-charged-with-possession-child-pornography/
