Priest arrested in Florida; accused of child porn on phone

Author: Associated Press
Published:
MGN Online

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – A Catholic priest has been arrested after authorities say he asked a teen to help him remove child pornography from his cellphone.

The Rev. Jose Palimattom of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in West Palm Beach is being jailed on an obscenity charge.

According to a police report, the priest showed a 14-year-old parishioner his phone, with about 40 images of nude pre-teen boys, asking for help in deleting the pictures.

Palimattom is from India. Detectives say the 47-year-old priest told them he had been reprimanded by his superiors there for involvement with a minor.

The Diocese of Palm Beach says it did a thorough screening of the priest but was unaware of any misconduct.

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