Strongsville - A Northeast Ohio Catholic priest arrested Thursday on charges of possessing child pornography.
Investigators took St. Joseph Catholic Church Rev. Robert McWilliams into custody at the Strongsville church. He is charged with four counts of possessing child pornography and one count of possessing criminal tools.
The criminal complaint was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The 39-year-old is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on $100,000 bond and is expected to make his first court appearance Monday.
Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members raided McWilliams’ living space and office Thursday according to the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. Officers were searching for “possible crimes committed in Geauga County.”
Items seized included electronic devices, including a cellphone, iPad and a laptop.
The charges against McWilliams include crimes that happened between April 2016 through December 5th of this year.
McWilliams, who became a priest at the church in 2017, is on administrative leave.
“St. Joseph Parish, Sts. Joseph and John School and the Diocese of Cleveland are committed to protecting children and stand ready to cooperate with law enforcement to assist in the investigation,” the diocese statement said.
Photo courtesy of Strongsville Police Department
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