Hughes is the pastor at St. Pancras R.C. Church in Glendale.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A Glendale church pastor has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on child pornography charges, federal prosecutors recently announced.
The Rev. Francis Hughes, 65, leader of St. Pancras R.C. Church, is charged with receiving images of child pornography via text from a 15-year-old minor in Westchester with whom Hughes was engaging in sexually explicit text communications.
According to the complaint filed last Wednesday in White Plains federal court, on Feb. 16, Hughes communicated by text messages via the Grindr app with a 15-year-old boy. During the course of the text communications, among other things, Minor-1 sent Hughes three images of Minor-1’s penis. Upon receiving one of the images, Hughes responded, among other things, “Yummmmm I will suck you so much” and “Make you cum.” During the communications, Hughes told Minor-1 that he was a part-time college professor and a counselor.
Photo Courtesy of FBI
The Rev. Francis Hughes
In another exchange detailed in the seven-page complaint, Hughes allegedly wrote “How would you like to be spoiled by your grandpa?” and “That makes me your sugar daddy.” Hughes also allegedly added, “And you’re the sugar baby, lol.”
“The allegations against Francis Hughes are chilling and frightening to any parent,” said Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss. “A person who, by the nature of his profession, is presumed to be trustworthy allegedly victimized a child.”
Hughes is charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“We expect adults, especially those in positions of trust like Francis Hughes, to protect our children, not victimize them. Sadly, these allegations demonstrate there are still predators out there who abuse this trust,” said FBI-NY Assistant Director in Charge Bill Sweeney, Jr. “If you or anyone you know may have been a victim of Rev. Hughes, we are asking you contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI. If you are a parent or guardian, please take a moment to have a discussion with your children about protecting themselves and about how they can report the type of predatory behavior that is alleged here today.”
