Campus ministry ex-director pleads guilty in child porn case
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A former campus minister at Villanova University awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to receiving child pornography.
Federal prosecutors said the plea on Tuesday by 52-year-old Timothy O’Connell of Drexel Hill involved obtaining images that depicted the sexual abuse and exploitation of pre-pubescent children.
One of the victims was a 2-year-old child identified by the FBI in another investigation.
O’Connell is the former associate director of campus ministry at the school. His lawyer, Heather Mattes, says he was terminated by Villanova.
U.S. Attorney William McSwain calls the case particularly disturbing because O’Connell was a spiritual leader who was trusted on campus.
Mattes says O’Connell is remorseful and will have more to say when he’s sentenced, which is currently scheduled for October.
Comments
God Help us.
And, anyone who classifies pedophilia as a "temptation" is one sick piece of conservative protestant garbage. Send him to "Every Man's Battle" that's the Loser MAGA solution. You people are a disease.
You're so easily manipulated it's pathetic. I post one word and you dance like an angry little monkey on my leash.
And, the only thing your 20 years in the military means to me is that you had your hand in my pocket for 20 years. I fed you, clothed you, gave you excellent medical care and now a pension and you probably hatched critters that I had to put through DOD schools. You received the ultimate hand out, don't expect me to thank you, leach. FYI you're supporting an illegitimate president. who tramples the 1st Amendment everyday. There hasn't been a bigger direct threat to the U.S. citizen's rights since 1812. You served yourself not me. And, since you've completely lost site of this, one of your own "conservative, christian animals" in the article is a pedophile.