Former Nelson County priest arrested on child porn charge in Florida

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, 11 a.m. — The former pastor of St. Thomas Catholic Church who resigned as pastor of a Louisville parish earlier this week amid child porn allegations was arrested Friday evening in Florida.

STEPHEN POHL

Father Stephen Pohl was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Friday night about 9 p.m. after the sheriff’s office received a tip from the FBI about him being in the Tampa area. The Louisville office of the FBI had a warrant for Pohl’s arrest.

He was arrested on one charge of possession of child pornography and lodged in the Pinellas County jail. He will be arraigned by a federal judge on Monday.

Pohl resigned Thursday as pastor of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Community following the FBI’s investigation.

During a press conference Friday, the Archdiocese of Louisville released additional information about the allegations against Pohl.

The investigation began after a student at St. Margaret Mary told their parents about a photo that was taken. The parents obtained a copy of the photo and then contacted authorities.

A search warrant executed Wednesday, Aug. 19 found that Pohl had up to 200 photos of St. Margaret Mary school children on his phone, computer or other storage devices that are believed to have been taken on the parish property.

The children were fully clothed, but authorities described some of the photos as inappropriate. The FBI determined Pohl has also downloaded and stored child pornography.

Pohl had been pastor at St. Margaret Mary since 2008. In Nelson County, Pohl had served at St. Joseph and St. Monica parish, and as pastor of St. Thomas.

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