Federal prosecutors seek 50-year sentence for priest who pleaded guilty to child porn charges
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federal prosecutors in Missouri are seeking a 50-year prison term for a Roman Catholic priest who admitted taking pornographic photos of children.
The Rev. Shawn Ratigan faces sentencing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. The 47-year-old priest pleaded guilty in August 2012 to five counts of producing or attempting to produce child porn — one count for each of five victims.
Ratigan was charged in May 2011 after police received a flash drive from his computer containing hundreds of images of children, most of them clothed, with the focus on their crotch areas.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prosecutors say he photographed girls in and around churches where he worked in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. His case led to charges against Bishop Robert Finn for failing to report suspected child abuse.