Pa. priest removed in 2009 set for child porn plea

Pa. priest removed in 2009 set for child porn plea

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh-area Roman Catholic priest who was removed from public ministry in 2009 after an allegation of past child sex abuse later deemed “credible” by his bishop is set to change his not guilty plea to a federal charge of possessing child pornography.

The Rev. David Dzermejko’s defense attorney didn’t immediately respond to calls about whether the priest will plead guilty or no contest when he appears before a federal judge today.

The 64-year-old priest now lives in Braddock but was pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church parish in Charleroi when he was removed four years ago.

Dzermejko was never criminally charged in the alleged abuse, which dated to the 1980s and involved another parish. But Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik determined the allegations were reason enough to remove Dzermejko from priestly duties.