
Father James Jackson Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography Case
Prosecutors will seek the mandatory minimum of five years in prison and will move to dismiss a second count of possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors will seek the mandatory minimum of five years in prison and will move to dismiss a second count of possession of child pornography.
The ex-pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Providence is facing federal charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Father Jackson was originally arrested at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Providence in October 2021 after law enforcement agents allegedly found child pornography on his laptop and external hard drive.
It’s unclear when the next hearing will be. In addition to federal proceedings, Father Jackson is also being investigated by a local police department in Kansas.
A court document from U.S. District Court for Kansas in Kansas City shows that Father Jackson was arrested on Friday. WPRI reported that the police department in Overland Park arrested him.
Father Jackson, formerly pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Providence, was arrested on Oct. 30 by the Rhode Island State Police after an investigation by a Rhode Island computer crimes task force.
Under the terms of his release from federal court in early November, Father Jackson is free on an unsecured bond with electronic monitoring.
In addition to state-level charges, federal authorities filed child pornography charges of their own against Father Jackson on Nov. 3 after his initial arrest.
Father Jackson, 66, was arrested Oct. 30 by members of a Rhode Island state task force executing a search warrant at St. Mary’s rectory.
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