Onetime Archdiocese Chancellor Allegedly Viewed Images on Computer at Retirement Home
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a retired Catholic priest has
been indicted for possessing pornographic images of girls as young as eight years old on his
computer which he allegedly viewed in front of many individuals at his retirement home in the
Bronx.
District Attorney Clark said, “This investigation by the Economic Crimes Bureau found
that the defendant had dozens of photographs on his computer of girls ages eight to 14 years old
performing sex acts with men or posing naked. People at the defendant’s residence were
subjected to it when they entered his room. Anyone who views child pornography supports
horrific child exploitation.”
District Attorney Clark said that Monsignor Harry J. Byrne, 96, who resides at the St. John
Vianney Center for Retired Priests in the Bronx operated by the Archdiocese of New York, was
indicted on 37 counts of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child and 37 counts
of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. He was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme
Court Justice Robert Neary and released. He is due back in court on January 17, 2018. If
convicted of the top charge, he could face up to four years in prison and would have to register
as a sex offender.
The investigation began about five months ago when officials at the residence notified
the Bronx District Attorney’s Office after receiving complaints about Byrne. According to the
investigation, the defendant sought out the images of young girls using Google and Bing.
Detectives from the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad conducted a forensic examination of his
computer and found at least 37 images of child pornography.
District Attorney Clark thanked the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad for their assistance
in the case, as well as the Bronx DA Detective Investigators.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
