By Michael V. Cusenza
Editor’s Note: The following contains graphic language.
A former St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church priest was sentenced last month to five years in prison, plus 10 years of supervised release, for his receipt of images of child pornography from a 15-year-old minor in Westchester, N.Y., with whom the priest was engaging in sexually explicit text communications, according to Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Francis Hughes, 68, pleaded guilty in August 2022.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in related court proceedings:
On Feb. 16, 2020, Hughes communicated by text messages with a 15-year-old boy (“Minor-1”). 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 Google
He was assigned to St. Helen’s from June 1994 to May 2001.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Hughes in July 2020.
“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,” FBI New York Assistant Director Bill Sweeney, Jr. said at the time. “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.”
The FBI has confirmed a list of places where Hughes worked in Queens:
- September 2015 to present: St. Pancras Parish (72-22 68th St., Glendale)
- June 1994 to May 2001 St. Helen Roman Catholic Church (157-10 83rd St., Howard Beach)
- July 1990 to June 1992 Cathedral Prepatory School and Seminary (56-25 92nd St., Elmhurst)
- January 1980 to June 1986 St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen Roman Catholic Church (123-14 14th Ave., College Point)
