Retired Priest Indicted For Possessing Porn Images of Minors

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Aretired priest is due back in Bronx Supreme Court Jan. 17, 2018, after being indicted for possessing pornographic images of girls as young as 8 years old on his computer at St. John Vianney Center for Retired Priests in the Bronx.

Msgr. Harry J. Byrne, 96, was indicted on multiple counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child. He was arraigned Oct. 31 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary and released without bail.

If convicted, Msgr. Byrne faces up to four years in prison, and he would have to register as a sex offender.

Officials at the residence contacted the Bronx District Attorney’s Office five months earlier after receiving complaints about Msgr. Byrne. The NYPD Computer Crimes Squad found at least 37 images of child pornography of girls ages 8 to 14 by conducting a forensic examination of his computer.

Msgr. Byrne, who was ordained in 1945 and named monsignor in 1968, served as chancellor of the archdiocese, 1968-1970. He also served as pastor of two Manhattan parishes, Epiphany, 1982-1996, and St. Joseph in the Yorkville section, 1970-1982.