A 51-year-old Episcopal priest from Long Beach was arrested Friday for possession of child pornography, methamphetamine, Xanax pills and drug paraphernalia, Nassau County police said.
Christopher King, a parish priest at St. James Episcopal Church of Long Beach, was charged with five counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
“The diocese and the entire Episcopal Church have a zero tolerance policy with respect to criminal conduct of any kind including the allegations made against Father King,” the Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Episcopal Bishop of Long Island, said Saturday. “As a result of these allegations, I have today terminated Father King’s license to function as an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Long Island.”
Major Case Bureau detectives said the child porn involving children younger than 16 years old was found on the priest’s computer and the drugs were found in his home.
Bail for King was set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash. He is due back in Nassau County court Tuesday.
