PENNSYLVANIA
WTAE
PITTSBURGH —A Catholic priest who was removed from public ministry after an allegation of past child sex abuse was deemed “credible” by the Pittsburgh diocese has now been indicted on a federal charge of possessing child pornography.
Dzermejko was first put on administrative leave after a diocesan spokesman said there appeared to be “some semblance of truth” to the abuse allegations, and he was eventually removed from public ministry after Bishop David Zubik said the allegations were deemed “credible.” But Dzermejko was never criminally charged with the alleged abuse, which dated back to the 1980s and involved another parish.
Defense attorney John Knorr said prosecutors have provided few details about the new child porn allegations so far. He said that Dzermejko has pleaded not guilty “and we’re expecting that he’ll persist in that.” Records show that the indictment was returned on May 7 and unsealed on Friday, and that Dzermejko is free on $50,000 unsecured bond.
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