Strongsville Priest Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Rev. Robert McWilliams is now accused of 21 charges related to a child pornography investigation. McWilliams was taken into custody in December outside of St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville.

McWilliams, 39, is accused of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, a felony. The charge means McWilliams is accused of trying to "create, record, photograph, film, develop, reproduce, or publish material" of a child engaged in a sexual act.

McWilliams worked at both St. Joseph Parish and Saints Joseph and John School.

Prosecutors believe McWilliams was receiving child pornography starting in 2016 but continuing through 2019, according to Fox 8. A search warrant related to the case was first obtained by the Geauga County Prosecutor's office.

Roman Catholic Bishop of Cleveland Nelson Perez issued a statement in December on McWilliams' charges, calling them "heart-wrenching." He pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.