KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter
Jul. 10, 2012
By Joshua J. McElwee
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Federal prosecutors in a case against a priest charged with possession of child pornography outlined Monday some of the evidence they intend to present at the priest’s August trial.
Among the material prosecutors said they will introduce in the trial of Fr. Shawn Ratigan is a long list of images of alleged “child erotica” in his possession, a web history that allegedly proves the priest accessed websites specializing in female child pornography, and web searches that allegedly show he was researching “spy” pens.
Altogether, the evidence will allegedly show that Ratigan’s motive in his actions was “to indulge in and satisfy a sexual interest in female children,” prosecutors write in their filing, which was first reported by The Kansas City Star Monday.
Ratigan, who had served as pastor of a local parish until his arrest in May, 2011, faces 13 federal counts of production and possession of child pornography.
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