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  Priest Expected to Plead Guilty
Former Quakertown Clergyman Faces Child Pornography Charges

By Steve Wartenberg
The Morning Call [Pennsylvania]
August 25, 2004

A former Quakertown priest will plead guilty to a child pornography charge today, one day after his trial was to start in Philadelphia, according to federal prosecutors.

The Rev. Matthew J. Kornacki, 57, bought child pornography discs and played them on his laptop computer, according to court filings.

"There will be a recitation of the facts and then he is expected to plead guilty … and a sentencing date will be set," said Jack Stollsteimer, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office.

Kornacki was indicted May 27 and charged with one count of possessing digital images of child pornography on his computer July 16, 2003, while he lived at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Montgomery County.

He served as assistant pastor of Quakertown's St. Isidore's Church from November 1985 to June 1992.

Kornacki initially said he was innocent.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Kornacki was removed from active ministry in July 2003 as soon as it learned of the allegations.

Kornacki's lawyer, Francis Recchuiti of Norristown, declined to comment.

In his 31 years as a priest, Kornacki served in five Philadelphia and four suburban parishes, including St. Ephram's in Bensalem Township, Immaculate Conception in Levittown and Holy Saviour in Norristown.

Kornacki faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 
 

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