Deacon pleads guilty to child pornography charges

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A deacon, who recently retired from a  Mobile Catholic church, pleaded guilty to child pornography on Monday, December 17 and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Robert Nouwen, a deacon at St. Vincent DePaul church in West Mobile, will also have to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Court documents said Nouwen admitted to investigators that he ordered DVDs featuring prepubescent boys “engaged in lascivious exhibition of the genitals.”

In October 2010, the United States Postal Service and Toronto Police Service began investigating a Toronto based movie production company that sold films marketed as naturalist films, which featured young boys.

Authorities said after obtaining a search warrant, they seized DVDs, pictures, computers and business records from the company.  They said they discovered Nouwen’s name in the company’s records. Documents show that Nouwen ordered child pornography on seven occasions between January and April, 2011.

Officials said police executed a search warrant on Nouwen’s home in September. They said during the execution of the warrant, Nouwen waived his rights and spoke to investigators.

Investigators said Nouwen claimed he watched the movies and then destroyed them.

Mobile Catholic Archbishop Thomas Rodi placed Nouwen on administrative leave.

Nouwen is scheduled for sentencing in March, 2013.

St. Vincent DePaul’s Catholic School did not immediately return our request for an interview.