Richard James Kurtz, Transportation of Child Pornography, Michigan 2015

A former Jesuit priest from Michigan has pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography, according to a recent indictment.

Jesuit Priest Richard James Kurtz, 69, formerly of Clarkston, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to transportation of child pornography, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.

The charges stem from an investigation that revealed Kurtz transported child pornography from his home in Clarkston, Michigan to a new residence in Chicago, Illinois in 2011.

Kurtz admitted that he transported over 2,300 images of child pornography during this time.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and was assisted by two Jesuit priests who discovered evidence of child pornography crimes among Kurtz’s belongings in Chicago, as well as at his former residence in Clarkston, Michigan.

Kurtz also faces charges of surreptitiously videotaping UDJHS hockey players after games during the 1998-1999 hockey season. Kurtz was a teacher of chemistry at UDJHS from 1970-1973, 1978-1983, and from September 1984-May 2001.

Kurtz entered into a plea agreement that calls for a sentence of between 10-14 years in custody. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith accepted Kurtz’s guilty plea, and took the proposed plea agreement under advisement. Sentencing is set for July 14, 2015.

United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade praised the work of FBI agents for their professionalism and dedication in their thorough investigation of these cases.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin M. Mulcahy is prosecuting this case for the United States.

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