A priest who had been charged with criminal sexual misconduct has
been charged again with 17 counts of possessing child pornography,
Ramsey County authorities said Tuesday.
The Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer, 48, of Oakdale, was removed as pastor of
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in St. Paul in June amid an
investigation into child sex assault.
During the summer of 2010, Wehmeyer allegedly brought two young
brothers to his camper trailer, parked in the lot of the church, and
showed the boys, then 12 and 14, pornographic movies.
He gave them
alcohol and marijuana as he allegedly molested one and exposed himself
to the other, according to the complaint filed in late September.
After he was arrested in June at the church rectory, Wehmeyer saw the
boys' mother and told her that he intended to plead guilty.
The complaint filed Monday details pornographic images showing nude
pre-pubscent boys alone and engaged in sexual acts with each other.
Investigators found the pictures in the rectory.
Each of the 17 counts is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
The earlier charges included second-degree criminal sexual conduct
and two counts of gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual
conduct.
Wehmeyer was ordained in 2001 and served as associate priest at St.
Joseph Catholic Church in West St. Paul from 2001 to 2006. Since 2006 he
had served at Blessed Sacrament.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a statement
following Wehmeyer's September charges, saying it "deeply regrets the
pain caused by clergy misconduct or by others within the Church, and is
offering its support and assistance to all concerned."