Retired Boise Priest Sentenced to 25 years in Child Pornography Case

By Nicole Hindberg on December 21, 2018

Back in February of this year, a retired priest from Boise, Idaho, was arrested on charges of possession of child pornography. Father W. Thomas Faucher faces 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, as well as additional charges for possession of marijuana and ecstasy.

Father Faucher pleaded guilty shortly after he was arrested saying that he was interested in “grandpa incest” pornography. The police found him in his home watching graphic child pornography that depicted infant children being raped, beaten and tortured. They also found an online chat on his computer that demonstrated his interest in abusing children. He pleaded guilty after a five-hour interview. The Boise police department said that there have not been any reports of him acting inappropriately with children. However, they are still investigating. The police department also said the Catholic church is conducting their own separate investigation.

via Pexels.com

Father Faucher has preached several times after his retiring. After learning of his arrest, they have banned him from ever ministering again.

Late Thursday night, the news was released that Father Faucher was sentenced to 25 years on possession and distribution of child pornography charges. During the hearing, he reportedly did not show any expression and kept his eyes locked on the judge. The attendants called the testimony horrific as they cried and looked away from the evidence shown in court. Many attendants left the room before the sentencing.

According to the Boise Police Department, the images he was watching were the worst they have ever seen. Prosecutor Kassandra Slaven gave her closing statement to the jury Thursday afternoon by saying: “All child pornography is terrible…. But when you have videos with the sound of infants and toddlers being brutally raped and tortured that focus solely on extreme violence to children — that’s just on a completely different level.”

Despite the fact that the priest pleaded guilty to all charges, he told his family and supporters that the child pornography was sent to him against his will and was put on his computer as part of a set-up. No supporter has publicly commented on this yet. He reportedly had been involved in many online chats, one where he said, “I want you to send me more of young boys and even infants.” He even admitted to ejaculating into the communion wine at St. Mary’s in Boise multiple times.

The church will conduct its own investigation of this case and will likely strip Faucher of his priesthood. Many Boise residents have called this a “just end to an evil case.”

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