Rhode Island Priest Admits To Downloading Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, RI — A priest at St. Mary's Church in Providence admitted in federal court he downloaded child pornography.

Rev. James Jackson on Thursday pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography.

Prosecutors said the investigation into Jackson began in September 2021, when an East Providence police detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified an IP address at St. Mary's Church being used to share files of sexual abuse of a child. According to prosecutors, the IP address was for a computer in a church rectory bedroom assigned to Jackson.

Authorities searched the computer and another device Jackson used and found more than 12,000 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography, prosecutors said.

Jackson was arraigned in November 2021 and was later released to the custody of his sister in Kansas. But then in June 2022, police in Kansas traced an IP address where Jackson was staying, searched the home and found more files containing child pornography, prosecutors said.

Jackson was returned to Rhode Island and ordered detained while awaiting trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11.

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