A federal grand jury has indicted a Catholic priest on 13 counts of possessing and producing child pornography.
Shawn Ratigan, 45, is already facing state charges.
KMBC’s Micheal Mahoney reported that the indictment accuses Ratigan of 11 counts of production or an attempt to produce child porn. Prosecutors said Ratigan “exploited five minor victims.” They say the victims range from 2 to 12 years old.
“When a person who has been places in a position of trust exploits and customizes children, he victimizes the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips.
Ratigan’s arrest on the child porn charges earlier in the year launched a firestorm of controversy surrounding the Kansas City Catholic diocese and its leader, Bishop Robert Finn.