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A priest who formerly taught at Detroit U-D Jesuit High School has been charged with possessing child porn that includes videos of the school's hockey players changing in the locker room after games during the 1998-99 season, according to federal authorities.
Richard James Kurtz, 69, taught chemistry at the UDJHS from 1970-73, 1978-83, and from September 1984-May 2001.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit, Kurtz was arrested Monday in Missouri where he will face a magistrate judge for his return to Detroit to face charges. If convicted, Kurtz faces a term of 15-30 years in custody for the production of child pornography charge, 5-20 years for the transportation of child pornography count, and up to 10 years for the possession of child pornography charge.
This is not the first time that Kurtz has gotten the attention of law enforcement authorities.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says that in November 2011 Kurtz, was arrested while living in Chicago for “sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.” The arrest warrant was for conduct in Colorado in 2001.
After his arrest, two Jesuit priests discovered evidence of possible child pornography crimes among Kurtz’s belongings in Chicago and his former residence in Clarkston, Michigan, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The Jesuits turned over evidence to the FBI.
