Former Detroit priest pleads guilty to child pornography charges

Timothy Murray had 7 different computer devices containing videos, images of child pornography

DETROIT – A former Detroit priest has pleaded guilty to child porn charges.

Timothy Murray, 62, of Novi, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possession child pornography, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said Wednesday.

According to court records, Murray used peer-to-peer software to trade child pornography with others, including an undercover DHS Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent.

A search warrant executed at Murray's home recovered at least seven different computer devices containing videos and images of child pornography.

Murray's collection included over 650 movies and over 450 images of child pornography.

Murray had previously served as a Catholic priest within the Archdiocese of Detroit before being removed from public ministry when substantiated allegations of Murray's prior sexual abuse of a young boy came to light.

"With his guilty plea, this defendant acknowledges his continued criminal sexual interest in children. The hands-on sexual abuse that led to his removal from public ministry by the Catholic church had long-lasting effects on the defendant's prior victim," McQuade said. "Similarly, the victims depicted in his extensive collection of child pornography suffered greatly not only at the hands of their abusers, but by those, like the defendant, who collect and continue to view the permanent depictions of their abuse."

Murray will be sentenced on Dec. 4, 2013, at 2 p.m.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Murray faces a sentence of 262-327 months in federal prison.