Ohio Priest Indicted On Child Pornography & Sex Trafficking Charges
A federal grand jury has indicted a Strongsville, Ohio priest on transportation of child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, juvenile sex trafficking charges, and more.
Officials identified the priest as 40-year-old Robert D. McWilliams. They add, “posing as a female, McWilliams allegedly enticed the minor male victims to send sexually explicit photographs and videos, sometimes threatening to expose embarrassing information McWilliams already knew about the victims if they did not send such images.”
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Officials continue, “At times, McWilliams is alleged to have threatened to send those photographs to family and friends if the minor male victims did not send additional photographs and videos.” The acts were reportedly committed from 2017 to 2019, during which McWilliams possessed, received and/or distributed an estimated 1,700 images and footage of child pornography.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland states, “We are grateful to those in law enforcement who have worked diligently to investigate this matter,” the diocese said in a statement. “As the criminal case against McWilliams proceeds, let us continue to pray for justice to be served and healing for those who have been harmed by sexual abuse.”
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The full list of charges is as follows: two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, three counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of transportation of child pornography, one count of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of possession of child pornography.