MONTREAL -- A former Roman Catholic deacon from the West Island was back in court Monday to be faced in a third charge in his child pornography case.
William Kokesch was charged with possession of child pornography in addition to earlier charges of distribution and production of child pornography after his arrest in late December 2012.
Responding to a complaint from a citizen, police searched Kokesch’s home and allegedly found a vast quantity of child pornography as well as chat messages on pedophilic websites. Police seized computer equipment and more than 2,000 pictures of children.
The man, in his 60s, was a consultant for the St-Edmund of Canterbury Church at the corner of St-Charles Blvd. and Beaconsfield Blvd. for seven years and is said to have advised the current Pope.
At the time of Kokesch’s arrest, he was removed from all pastoral activities by the Archdiocese of Montreal.
He was granted bail on Dec. 27 after being ordered to deposit $10,000 and was told he is not allowed to be in public areas where children are likely to gather. He is also forbidden from using a computer, smartphone, camera or having access to the Internet.
The Pointe-Claire husband and father has renounced his right to a preliminary inquiry and is set to return to court Jan. 14 to set a date for a trial.
The minimum sentence if he is found guilty is one year in jail.
