Monday, October 15, 2012

Priest charged with sex assaults on boys now faces child porn charges

A priest who had been charged with criminal sexual misconduct has been charged again with 17 counts of possessing child pornography, Ramsey County authorities said Tuesday.

The Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer, 48, of Oakdale, was removed as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in St. Paul in June amid an investigation into child sex assault.

During the summer of 2010, Wehmeyer allegedly brought two young brothers to his camper trailer, parked in the lot of the church, and showed the boys, then 12 and 14, pornographic movies. 

He gave them alcohol and marijuana as he allegedly molested one and exposed himself to the other, according to the complaint filed in late September.

After he was arrested in June at the church rectory, Wehmeyer saw the boys' mother and told her that he intended to plead guilty.

The complaint filed Monday details pornographic images showing nude pre-pubscent boys alone and engaged in sexual acts with each other. Investigators found the pictures in the rectory.

Each of the 17 counts is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

The earlier charges included second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Wehmeyer was ordained in 2001 and served as associate priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West St. Paul from 2001 to 2006. Since 2006 he had served at Blessed Sacrament.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a statement following Wehmeyer's September charges, saying it "deeply regrets the pain caused by clergy misconduct or by others within the Church, and is offering its support and assistance to all concerned."