HERNANDO (MS)
WREG [Memphis, TN]
June 4, 2026
By Mike Suriani
Nesbit, Mississippi, residents are reacting after a former De Soto County priest-in-training pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
Johnathan Tu Nguyen-Vuong could face a minimum of five to forty years in prison when he’s sentenced in August. His charges stem from a July 2025 investigation.
Former priest-in-training pleads guilty to child sex crime
At the time of his arrest, Nguyen-Vuong was living at St. Michael’s Community House in Nesbit, where investigators found his computer in the process of uploading and downloading child sexual abuse material.
“It is really sad. It is heartbreaking. It’s upsetting, very upsetting,” said Krista Dornier, Principal of Ambleside School.
Dornier is the principal of Ambleside School, a private Christian school, located in Nesbit, sitting about a hundred yards from where investigators made the discovery.Priest-in-training accused of possessing child porn
“When I was contacted by our local County Supervisor,it was definitely concerning to know that any child predator would be in the vicinity, a place near our school where we have children,” said Dornier.
It’s where Nguyen-Vuong, a former priest-in-training, had been living, accused of possessing child porn.
“The only detail I knew is that he had been accessing child pornographic material online,” said Dornier.
Nguyen-Vuong was arrested at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Olive Branch, serving as a religious educator during an investigation in 2025 involving the transmission of child sexual abuse material over the internet.
The DA’s office says Nguyen-Vuong had been working at a summer camp with children.
“He’s going down the wrong road, I think. I’m glad they got him now instead of letting it go on for years and years and years,” said Mickey Garrett, Nesbit, MS.
“I’m grateful that we have individuals that are willing to stand up for children,” said Dornier.
Investigators have contacted parents of children who had been around Nguyen-Vuong to ensure their safety and determine if there are other victims.
We’re told the religious community associated with St. Michael’s community house gave full cooperation to investigators.