Ex-minister pleads guilty in child porn case

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A former minister who subscribed to numerous Internet sites that provide photos and videos of minors engaged in sex acts has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges.
Jerry Paull, 64, of Amherst, entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. He pleaded guilty to receipt of visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Paull subscribed to the sites between 1997 and 2004 that showed minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and child pornography, according to court documents.
"There were images of small boys tied up, pretty horrific stuff," said assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan.
Paull worked as a minister for 36 years, most recently as pastor at Christ United Methodist church in Akron, Sullivan said. He said prosecutors do not believe children who worshipped at his church were involved.
When sentenced April 3, Paull faces between eight and 10 years in prison. His attorneys, Kevin McCafferkey and Dean Boland, did not comment.