FSSP Fr. James Jackson Apologizes, Claims ‘Addiction’ To Child Porn: More Than 12,000 Images And Videos Depicting Child Sexual Abuse Were Located On His Computers.

More than 12,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse were located on the defendant’s computers. These materials included pre-pubescent minors, sadistic and masochistic conduct, and bestiality.........

Fr. James Jackson apologizes, claims ‘addiction’ to child porn In a plea for a sentence of five years on child pornography charges, Fr. James Jackson told a federal judge that he accepted responsibility for his crimes and was sorry, and that he had been sexually abused himself as a minor. The priest also sent to the court an August letter to members of his religious community, in which he apologized for his “vile sin.” “The vile sin into which I fell, and for which I am guilty, has caused immeasurable harm,” Jackson explained in a handwritten letter dated Aug. 6, and reportedly sent to his religious provincial superior and other members of his religious community. “I have sinned against God, children, you, friends and family, former students and former parishioners and many others besides,” the priest wrote. “I cannot repair this damage, but I must try. I hope you will accept this apology.” “I’m sorry at a level I’ve never experienced before. I’m ashamed beyond any shame I’ve known,” the priest wrote. “I will be offering reparations, penances, and what good works I can for you, long after I am dismissed from the Fraternity, and praying for you, in a reformed life, until my dying day.” Jackson’s apology came attached to a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court Dec. 11, six months after he pled guilty to a felony count of receiving child sex abuse material. In the memorandum, the priest asked that he be sentenced to five years incarceration, followed by supervised release. Due to be sentenced Dec. 13, Jackson, 68, could receive the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but is likely to be sentenced to five years, in light of a concurring recommendation from federal prosecutors. The priest told the court that he has been “involuntarily removed from the priesthood but has not abandoned his faith.” “He rightfully confessed his sins associated with the crimes in this case, just as he pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility before this Court,” his sentencing memo read. Jackson told the judge that his conduct was “hypocritical” and “completely unbecoming of a devout Catholic and more so, a clergyman.” The sentencing memo also said that Jackson had been himself sexually abused, and subsequently developed an “addiction” to child sex abuse material. “While there is no excuse or justification for Mr. Jackson’s admitted misconduct, such is not without explanation. As a young boy, while participating in Boy Scouts, Mr. Jackson was molested,” the memo said. “These events were not timely reported or disclosed to anyone, foreclosing the possibility of young James receiving proper care or treatment for his trauma. In any event, these experiences shaped and socialized him, at least partially, into the man he is today.” “Mr. Jackson channeled that trauma and addressed it by pursuing and viewing child pornography. His doing so resulted in the development of an addiction to these obscene visual depictions, which explains how and why he comes before this Court.” According to other court documents, Jackson told law enforcement that he was abused when he was 10 years old, and was allegedly perpetrated by the mother of a fellow child in his Boy Scout troop. 

For their part, federal prosecutors wrote in a Dec. 11 memo that Jackson should receive five years incarceration, along with 10 years of supervised release, and be ordered to pay restitution to victims of child pornography. “The victims in this case are real children who were raped and molested in order to provide sexual gratification for the defendant. By repeatedly downloading and viewing child sexual abuse material for his own gratification, this defendant engaged in repeated acts of dehumanization which re-victimized the children,” prosecutors wrote. “More than 12,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse were located on the defendant’s computers. These materials included pre-pubescent minors, sadistic and masochistic conduct, and bestiality. Through his reprehensible conduct, the defendant fueled the market for child sexual abuse material and further harmed the victims.” According to federal prosecutors, 190 victims of child abuse sex could be identified in the cache of images and videos in Jackson’s possession. In response to her abuse, one victim stated that: “I live everyday with the horrible knowledge that many people somewhere are watching the most terrifying moments of my life and taking grotesque pleasure in them. I am a victim of the worst kind of exploitation: child porn. Unlike other forms of exploitation, this one is never ending. Everyday, people are trading and sharing videos of me as a little girl being raped in the most sadistic ways. They don’t know me, but they have seen every part of me. They are being entertained by my pain and shame.” Prosecutors noted that a “particularly disturbing fact in this case is the defendant’s position of authority as a Catholic priest and pastor. As such, the defendant was looked up to by many as paragon of moral authority.” The sentencing memo argued that Jackson is likely to commit crimes in the future, given that he downloaded child sex abuse material even after he was arrested. “This defendant clearly has some form of addictive personality. To engage in downloading child sexual abuse material while under the supervision of a federal court, shortly after being arrested for the same conduct, demonstrates either a flagrant disregard for the Court’s authority or an inability to control one’s own behavior. Either explanation creates a high risk of recidivism.” Source