Fr. Dennis Carey Pleads Not Guilty to Child Porn Charge

By Paul Petrone
The Patch
July 9, 2012

http://waterford.patch.com/articles/fr-dennis-carey-pleads-not-guilty-to-child-porn-charge

Today Fr. Dennis Carey, 65, the former head pastor of Waterford’s St. Paul in Chains Rectory, plead not guilty to a charge of first-degree possession of child pornography.

Carey resigned from St. Paul’s on June 28 after police executed a search warrant on the rectory and found 338 files of child pornography on various computers inside the Roman Catholic church, according to the arrest warrant. Police also said in the warrant that during the search, Carey said he was addicted to child pornography for the last two years, although said he never physically abused a child.

Carey later turned himself in on a charge of first-degree child pornography. During his arraignment hearing on July 3, Carey told Judge Kevin McMahon that he wanted to get help, and his lawyer, Ron Stevens, told reporters after the arraignment that Carey has been struggling with the problem for a long time.

Carey has posted $100,000 bond, and has been released on three conditions: he is not allowed to access the Internet, he is not allowed to possess pornography and he is not allowed to have contact with children under 13. His next court appearance is August 13.

Carey is currently staying at the Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, according to Stevens. Carey refused comment after his court appearance.

Bishop's Letter

In a letter to parishioners this weekend, Bishop Michael Cote of the Diocese of Norwich said he is in the process of dismissing Carey from the clerical state. He also installed Fr. Joseph Whittel as the temporary head pastor of St. Paul's Church.

"To my knowledge no one in the parish or dioceses had reason to suspect or believe Father Carey possessed, collected, or shared child pornography," Cote wrote in the letter. "I certainly did not. These allegations come as a total shock to us, as well to the personnel, employees, volunteers and parishioners at St. Paul's Church."

Cote said the Diocese did not and is not paying for Carey's bond or the cost of his defense.