HONESDALE, Pa. — A Roman Catholic priest from New Jersey has been charged in Pennsylvania with uploading child pornography to an internet chat room. His lawyer is attacking the probe and says the priest will “vigorously” defend himself.
Father Kevin Gugliotta of Mahwah, N.J., is charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography and 20 counts of dissemination of child pornography. He was arrested last week in Toms River, New Jersey, and is being held pending extradition to Pennsylvania.
Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said Wednesday the images were uploaded from an internet address registered to Gugliotta in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania.
Gugliotta’s attorney, Jim Swetz, says it doesn’t appear investigators recovered the device Gugliotta allegedly used.
Gugliotta was parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Church in Union, New Jersey. Newark Archbishop John J. Myers has removed Gugliotta from ministry.
In a statement released after the arrest, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark said “the American system of justice assumes the presumption of innocence of the accused.”
This is a serious and difficult matter that must proceed, as required, through the court process of the State of Pennsylvania. As a result, the Archdiocese is not in a position to discuss the details of Father Gugliotta’s situation at this time,” the statement said.
“The Archdiocese of Newark takes very seriously any and all complaints of sexual misconduct by members of the Clergy, Religious and lay staff of the Archdiocese, its parishes and schools,” it said. “Anyone with knowledge of an act of sexual misconduct is encouraged to inform the Archdiocese immediately so that it may take appropriate action and provide support to the victim.”
Gugliotta, as it happens, is also a nationally-ranked poker player who reportedly has made hundreds of thousands of dollars from the game.
According to a well-known poker database, Gugliotta is ranked 4,192 on the United States All Time Money List and 193 on New Jersey’s All Time Money List.
