Prosecution Deferred in Priest Pornography Case

San Francisco Chronicle
January 8, 2013

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Prosecution-deferred-in-priest-pornography-case-4174830.php

Flathead County prosecutors have reached a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with a retired Roman Catholic Priest who was charged in a child pornography case last February.

The Jan. 2 agreement with the Rev. Rudy Bullman allows a felony sexual abuse of children charge to be dismissed if he meets several conditions including attending counseling and a spiritual support group and having his computer checked for pornography every six months, The Daily Inter Lake reports (http://bit.ly/U1hgld ) reported Tuesday.

He also must be screened for the use of antidepressants and not be in a position of authority over any person under the age of 18 for the next three years.

The circumstances of the offense "justify this agreement, and it appears that the execution and implementation of this agreement is more beneficial to society and to the Defendant over the long term than continued prosecution of this matter," the agreement states.

County Attorney Ed Corrigan did not return a phone call to the newspaper or The Associated Press seeking comment.

Bullman, who is in his mid-60s, was a priest at Risen Christ Parish in Evergreen for about 10 years. He was placed on administrative leave in December 2011 after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena learned he was under investigation in a child pornography case.

Someone who purchased a game system from Bullman in the fall of 2011 reported finding pornographic images of boys, court records said. A search of Bullman's computer turned up similar images, prosecutors said.

Diocese of Helena spokeswoman Renee St. Martin Wizeman said Tuesday that Bullman retired in March 2012 and has no active ministry duties.

He was ordained in 2000.