CLEVELAND — A Strongsville priest has been hit with more charges stemming from a child pornography investigation that now spans two counties.
Rev. Bob McWilliams posted 10% of his $50,000 Cuyahoga County Court bond Thursday, records show, after the 8th District Court of Appeals sided with him on his request for a lower bond.
McWilliams was set to be released from jail when a warrant was filed detailing additional charges of pandering obscenities from Geauga County, where the investigation took root last month.
As 3News reported, the investigation started with allegations the priest sent an inappropriate text to a teenager at St. Helen’s Church in Newbury, where McWilliams led the church’s youth program.
In the text exchange, McWilliams posed online as a teen-aged girl and asked a teen-aged boy to take photos of himself and forward them to him, authorities said.
Once Geauga County officials learned of the texts, they obtained a search warrant to obtain electronics belonging to McWilliams, including a laptop, IPad and cell phone.
The search unfolded Dec. 5 at St. Joseph Catholic Church where McWilliams resided.
Authorities said the search by deputies and agents with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children task force uncovered what prosecutors said was a "substantial" number of pornographic images and videos depicting children.
McWilliams, 39, was arrested outside the church rectory on a charge of pandering obscenities. Additional charges are expected once the case is reviewed by separate grand juries in Cuyahoga and Geauga counties.
Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz would not comment or provide details of the ongoing investigation. McWilliams is expected to be arraigned later in Chardon Municipal court on the new charge.
McWilliams worked as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph's. He was ordained as a priest in 2017.