A priest who has been on administrative leave for more than half a decade, in part over allegations of inappropriate conduct with children, has been charged by federal authorities with possession of child pornography, a U.S. attorney announced on July 8.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York said in a press release that Father Jeffrey Nowak of Lackawanna, New York, was arrested and charged with both the receipt and possession of child pornography.
The charges "carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years," the attorney's office said.
Nowak has been the subject of investigations by authorities as far back as 2019, when he was placed on administrative leave that year after a seminarian reported that the priest had sexually harassed him.
The U.S. attorney's office said Nowak was also the subject of "allegations of inappropriate contact with children."
The priest was also linked to an email address reportedly connected with child sexual abuse material, according to the prosecutor's office. A two-year FBI investigation into the matter was ultimately closed.
The FBI reopened its investigation into Nowak in March of this year, the prosecutor said. On July 8 a search warrant was executed at Nowak's residence during which investigators found child pornography on his electronic devices.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said in the release that the priest "hid behind a keyboard and took part in the tragic exploitation of one of society's most vulnerable populations, our children."
"Nowak has now been exposed and can no longer hide and will be held accountable for his disgraceful behavior," the prosecutor said.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Buffalo, meanwhile, said in a statement on July 9 that Nowak "was placed on permanent leave in 2019 and has not been permitted to function as a priest since then."
"We are not aware of any attempt by law enforcement officials to contact the diocese regarding these allegations," the statement said.
The diocese "has just learned of the allegations against him and will cooperate fully with any inquiry by law enforcement officials," it added.
