Father James W. Jackson, Child Pornography Charge, Rhode Island 2023

A Catholic priest has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for downloading and storing thousands of files of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha in Providence, Rhode Island.

The defendant, Father James W. Jackson, 68, a former Rhode Island priest assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Providence, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2023, to a charge of receipt of child pornography.

According to documents filed with the court, in September 2021, an East Providence Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force identified an IP address assigned to the rectory at St. Mary’s Church that was being utilized to share files of child sexual abuse material.

A court-authorized search of a computer and digital device located in a church rectory bedroom utilized by Father Jackson was found to contain images and videos of child sexual abuse, including multiple images involving prepubescent females, and some of which involved acts of bestiality and sadomasochism.

The search revealed over 12,000 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography, which were downloaded and stored on the devices by Father Jackson.

Jackson was later released while awaiting trial to the custody of his sister, who resides in Kansas, but was returned to Rhode Island and ordered detained after a second IP address connected to him was identified in Kansas, downloading child pornography.

On June 8, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty to the charge of receipt of child pornography, and today, he was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 72 months of incarceration, followed by five years of federal supervised release.

In addition to the prison sentence, the Court imposed special assessments of $17,000 (The Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018), and $5,000 (The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015), as well as ordering restitution to specific victims in approximately thirty days.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams, and the matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC and Homeland Security Investigations.

U.S. Attorney Cunha expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas ICAC in the investigation.

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