St. John's priest charged with emailing lewd videos
Everton Bailey, News Editor
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
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According to news outlets, Rev. Charles Plock, 63, a University youth minister and chaplain, was released on $150,000 bail after being arrested in his on-campus apartment in the Rev. John B. Murray, C.M. Priest Residence early Friday morning. The priest is being charged with allegedly recording himself masturbating and sending the videos to a teenager. However, the youth turned out to be a police detective from a Colorado sheriff's office engaging in an online sting operation.
Initial reports say NYPD investigators received a search warrant for Plock's apartment after authorities traced the email to the St. John's Queens campus. Law officials seized the priest's computer and the footage, which they said was shot in his bathroom and that his face was clearly visible.
Plock's defense for the videos was he only sent them to consenting adults, reports the article.
Plock was released under the condition he check himself into St. John's Vianney Center, a Pennsylvania-based residential psychiatric facility for the clergy.
Plock's next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 11.
In a St. John's official statement released earlier today acknowledging Plock's arrest, the school said they are "cooperating fully with authorities who are in the process of conducting an investigation."
"It would be inappropriate for the University to comment any further at this time," said the statement.
St. John's students reacted in disbelief upon hearing of the arrest of Plock, a priest many knew as "Father Charlie" and who was often seen wearing a backwards baseball cap in addition to his clerical collar.
"He seemed like a cool [guy]," said junior Jamal Polite. "You just don't know who to trust nowadays."
Sophomore David Oscos also said that he felt Plock appeared to be a friendly individual.
"He helped me move in and he seemed like a nice guy," he said. "But he wasn't your typical priest. There was something weird about him."
Other students refused to speak on the issue altogether.
"It's very sad and disappointing," said freshman Charles Miller. "Honestly, I'm in such shock, I can't even comment."
Sophomore Tobby Outule said, "It's shocking, he's a [priest], you shouldn't expect that from him. Since this is a Catholic university, you would expect them to instill their morals."
An official from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner for Public Information office said the department could not comment on the case at this time.
Additional reporting by Jose Silva
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 29
Jeremy
posted 10/12/08 @ 5:38 PM NA
Why is he being sent to a posh facility? He needs to have his priest title revoked and have someone yell at him for being a disgusting old man. 65 years old and sending garbage like this through the internet, what the hell was he thinking? Abosultely disgusting!
Kate Dickman
posted 10/12/08 @ 9:11 PM NA
I agree... what a disgrace to the St. John's University name as well. Too many of these closeted pedophiles are within the church. It's time the Catholic church stops covering them up for the sake of avoiding additional bad press and finds these guys and exiles them from the church. (Continued…)
Timothy Rauch
posted 10/12/08 @ 10:03 PM NA
The allegations are serious and disturbing. Certainly there are few things that could be more reprehensible than taking sexually advantage of children. (Continued…)
marisa taylor
posted 10/13/08 @ 1:40 AM NA
How come others caught in stings like this are immediately tossed in the slammer not some cushy slap on the wrist cover up environment. They have harsher consequences on the show
To Catch a Predator. (Continued…)
Alisa Silvestri
posted 10/13/08 @ 1:55 AM NA
I do not question the service that Father Charlie Plock has done over the years and do believe that it was out of the goodness of his heart. In all honesty, I do feel pity for him, pity because he is someone who is deeply troubled and needs God more than ever right now. (Continued…)
TGL
posted 10/13/08 @ 2:27 AM NA
As a former graduate of SJU, I am disgusted by the actions of this man. Additionally disturbing is a fact reported in Newsday but omitted from this article, that the other SJU priests bailed this "person" out of jail. (Continued…)
Andy
posted 10/13/08 @ 4:30 AM NA
Why is this a surprise to some people? This has been going on for ages in the church and since there are certain cardinals....*cough* Egan *cough* out there who protect freaks like this, it is going to keep going in the church. (Continued…)
Michelle Langstrand
posted 10/13/08 @ 3:09 PM NA
I have to say, as a former Torch writer, great reporting! This article is really well written, and I was very happy to see it on the front page of the site. (Continued…)
Kim Maharaj
posted 10/13/08 @ 6:28 PM NA
I am very sad/shocked to hear about the allegations and arrest... I agree with Tim in that he did a lot of good for the community. He wasn't your regular priest is true, but I thought that was to his advantage because he was more approachable and down to earth. (Continued…)
Jim Maher
posted 10/14/08 @ 2:49 PM NA
Once again SJU is another controversy. Father Harrington needs to be held accountable. It is a shame that he was bailed out. If Fr. Harrington or the University paid for his bail he should be fired. (Continued…)
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