Former Oswegatchie pastor pleads guilty to child porn

CANTON — The former pastor of Oswegatchie First Baptist Church admitted Monday in St. Lawrence County Court to downloading child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years' probation for the crime.

Merton E. Parks, 61, of 469 Oswegatchie Trail Road, Fine, pleaded guilty in front of Judge Jerome J. Richards to felony possessing a sexual performance by a child. Mr. Parks also must register as a sex offender, with a classification hearing scheduled for June 29.

He declined comment after the hearing, but defense attorney Gary W. Miles said his client was remorseful for his actions.

"He got involved in something that was ungodly," Mr. Miles said.

Mr. Parks admitted to downloading child pornography to a computer at the church in July. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Unit tracked a credit card he used to buy the pornography from several Web sites. He resigned from his post in October.

He previously told St. Lawrence County sheriff's investigators that he never molested any area children, but he admitted that downloading child pornography wasn't smart.