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Priest Arrested in Web Sex Sting

Originally published by The Associated Press, May 25, 2001

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest who is the spiritual adviser at a Connecticut high school was arrested after allegedly having explicit sexual conversations online with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy.

The arrest was the latest in an ongoing sex sting in New York's Westchester County that has resulted in 42 arrests and 35 convictions.

District Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday that Rev. John J. Castaldo described to the undercover agent the explicit sexual activity he wanted to engage in. He was charged with attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. Castaldo was arrested and arraigned Thursday.

Castaldo is spiritual adviser at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.

The school referred questions to the office of the Bridgeport Diocese. A spokesman there, Joe McAleer, said he had no immediate comment.

The sting, in which undercover agents join chat rooms and pose as children, has led to the arrests of six other educators.

© 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.