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Girard pastor charged in child pornography case
SPRINGFIELD - A former Girard church pastor indicted this week by a federal grand jury is accused of using his position as a nursing home chaplain to access child pornography.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Springfield said Howard D. Shockey, 59, is charged with possession of child pornography for an incident on July 7.

He was a pastor of the Church of Brethren Church in Girard, where he served almost seven years, and was chaplain of the Pleasant Hill Nursing Home in Girard. He has been terminated from both positions, officials said Thursday....

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Umberger resigns from St. Pat’s
Members of St. Patrick’s Catholic parish in Onalaska learned over the weekend their pastor, charged last month with possessing child pornography, has stepped down....

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Church Pastor Charged With Sexual Abuse
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a church pastor has been charged with sexual abuse.

Authorities said a weeklong investigation ended with the arrest and charges of crimes against a child being filed against Timothy Parker, 40, of Westgate.

Parker is the pastor at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate.

Authorities said they launched their investigation after a 13-year-old talked about an incident.

Parker is charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a minor and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. The charges could result in 30 years in prison if Parker is convicted....