A New Jersey priest was sentenced to up to two years in prison Thursday for uploading child pornography to his computer, the New York Daily News reports. But don't worry—he says he only did it to punish God for making him lose at poker. According to WNEP, Fr. Kevin Gugliotta told probation officers he felt God was making him lose poker tournaments and he wanted to get back at the deity. Gugliotta, 55, was charged with 40 counts related to child pornography for images he uploaded to his computer between July and August of 2016 at an apartment in Pennsylvania, the Pocono Record reports. He pleaded guilty to one count in return for the other 39 being dropped. In addition to prison time, Gugliotta must register as a sex offender.
Gugliotta's reason for uploading child pornography was a surprise to a number of people in court. "No matter what he says why he did it, he still admits he did it and that's the important thing as a prosecutor," DA Janine Edwards tells WBRE. And Gugliotta's lawyer admits "there are other ways to handle issues and handle anger." A contingent of New Jersey priests were in court Thursday to support Gugliotta. "People do things under stress they wouldn't normally do," Fr. Gabriel Costa of the Archdiocese of Newark tells WNEP. Gugliotta has already spent 10 months in jail and could be released from prison in a little over a month. Costa says Gugliotta has used his time behind bars "almost as a retreat; he's prayed a lot." The archdiocese has yet to decide if it will allow Gugliotta to return as a priest. (More weird crimes stories.)
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