Fr. Robert D. McWilliams
Working at St. Joseph’s Parish and Sts. Joseph and John School in Strongsville when arrested 12/5/2019, charged with sending and receiving child pornography. Placed on administrative leave. Posed as a teen girl to get teen boys to send him nude photos. Investigators discovered in McWilliams’ possession “substantial” amounts of pornographic photos and videos of children. Pleaded not guilty 1/22/2020. New charges in 2/2020 included sex trafficking of a minor. Prosecutors said he paid a 15-year-old boy for sex on several occasions. Indicted 7/2/2020 on federal charges of child porn and exploitation of children. Pleaded guilty in 7/2021. Knew some of his victims from his assigned parishes. Sentenced in 11/2021 to life in prison. On 12/21/2021 the Diocese announced that the Vatican had laicized McWilliams. He died 2/4/2022 of suspected suicide at the Allenwood federal prison in PA. A 19-year-old man filed suit in 3/2022 against the Diocese, claiming McWilliams abused him for two years, from age 14. Name included on the Diocese’s list of credibly accused.
- News Herald 03.02.12
- Cleveland Plain Dealer 12.05.19
- WKYC 12.06.19
- WOIO TV 12.09.19
- WJW TV 12.17.19
- WJW TV 12.23.19
- WJW TV 12.31.19
- Clevelandcom 12.31.19
- WJW TV 01.07.20
- WKYC 01.07.20
- News 5 Cleveland 01.17.20
- Cleveland com 01.22.20
- Associated Press 02.21.20
- Cleveland com 07.02.20
- Independent (UK) 07.04.20
- Christian Post 07.04.20
- Catholic News Service/USCCB via NCR 07.07.20
- Highland County Press 07.20.20
- Toledo Blade 09.06.20
- News-Herald 01.03.21
- The Pillar 07.07.21
- WEWS 07.16.21
- WJW 07.16.21
- National Catholic Register 10.06.21
- Associated Press 11.11.21
- WOIO 11.09.21
- America 12.02.21
- Catholic News Service 12.29.21
- WKYC 02.04.22
- WEWS 02.04.22
- WEWS 03.29.22
- Plain Dealer 03.29.22
- Diocese of Cleveland List 08.26.22
Sources:
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