A police investigation found no probable cause for criminal charges against a priest accused of exchanging explicit pictures with a juvenile in Aiken.

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office started its investigation Tuesday after receiving information from the Aiken Department of Public Safety about a possible pornography case involving Father Raymond Flores, 33, of Saint Mary's Help of Christians Church.

Investigators discovered Flores was having an online conversation with a juvenile on Grindr, an online adult dating application, during which they exchanged photos of their genitalia. An investigation revealed the juvenile indicated on Grindr he was 18 years old.

Flores, the juvenile and his family and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston fully cooperated in the investigation, according to the sheriff's office. The investigation revealed there was no evidence that would have risen beyond the initial complaint and established probable cause for criminal charges.

The findings were presented to the 2nd Circuit Solicitor's Office and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. The juvenile's family told investigators they did not want to pursue any further action.

Flores was placed on administrative leave without the ability to perform priestly duties for behavior inappropriate of a priest, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.

The diocese said in a statement Thursday that Bishop Robert Guglielmone accepted Flores from the Diocese of Brooklyn with knowledge of a report that stated he had an inappropriate consensual relationship with an adult woman four years earlier, a violation of his promise of celibacy.

According to the Diocese of Brooklyn, he was removed from ministry from November 2014 to September 2018 for the inappropriate relationship. He was ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn on June 29, 2013.

Guglielmone was told Flores had attended counseling and, after an extended period of prayerful discernment, he had recommitted to celibacy. He agreed to accept Flores for ministry in the Diocese, although he remained a permanent priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, the statement reads.

In a statement, the Diocese of Brooklyn believed since his behavior did not involve a minor, they allowed him to return to the ministry. To gain a fresh start, Flores left Brooklyn and assumed duties at the Diocese of Charleston.

There have been no allegations against Flores related to sexual abuse of a minor and he wouldn't have been accepted for ministry if there had been, according to both dioceses. Since no charges will be filled, the case is now an internal personnel matter, the Dioceses of Charleston said in a statement.