Photo credit: Belleville Police Department

I almost feel like the only time The Goldwater reports anything about a Catholic Priest, it's involving one who's a sick and demented pedophile who's sexually attracted to children, and today's report of a Metro East Catholic Priest being caught with Child Pornography in Illinois only underscores the above statement.

The Catholic Priest, 54-year-old Rev. Gerald R. Hechenberger; was employed at the Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church and School located at 104 North Independence Street in Mascoutah, Illinois, according to<a href="http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2018/01/10/southern-illinois-catholic-priest-charged-with-child-pornography"> WJBD 100.1 Radio</a>, where he was both an educator of young children and an Associate Priest.

The Church is located around thirty miles to the southeast of St. Louis, which is a considered as a typically peaceful town on the outskirts of a crime-ridden city.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d12491.417444766797!2d-89.7924866!3d38.4910024!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x98899d7380576fb8!2sHoly+Childhood+of+Jesus+Catholic+Church!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1515613224267" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church in Mascoutah, Illinois.</span>

Hechenberger has a longstanding history in the Catholic Church, not just as an Associate Priest at Holy Childhood, but also serving in at least two nearby Parishes, including St. Pancratius Parish in Fayetteville, St. John the Baptist in Smithton, Illinois, and also St. Liborius Parish in Marissa.

This means that Hechenberger has been around children at several locations, which is incredibly frightening due to the severity of his crimes, which we're going to discuss shortly.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d12510.736128446333!2d-89.7941104!3d38.3794303!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x571b25b33f679006!2sSt+Pancratius+Church!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1515613523347" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Saint Pancratius Church in Fayetteville, Illinois.</span>

Due to these ties to multiple Churches in multiple cities, the potential for Hechenberger to have assaulted children in the past is high, so I've provided the maps of both of the other Catholic Churches.

In the case that you, or a family member, have ever attended service with this disgusting pedophile, may have had children at an event or nearby facility in which was close to Hechenberger’s workplace; or could have any other potential information (even the smallest detail) in which could lead authorities to bringing additional charges against the disgraced Priest.

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<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Saint Liborius Church in Marissa, Illinois.</span>

With the potential to any harm that could have come to any children at any of these churches; Police believe it's absolutely crucial that this information is spread to nearby communities. Share this article with friends and family in the Illinois area.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d12505.731544837865!2d-89.9937704!3d38.4083598!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x897d64b359ecb3e7!2sSt+John+The+Baptist+Catholic!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1515615242373" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Smithton, Illinois.</span>

Detectives from the Belleville Police Department say that much like a multitude of other Priests we've reported on at The Goldwater; Hechenberger lived a secret life as both a vicious pedophile, and a drug using degenerate.

The<a href="https://www.icactaskforce.org"> Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force</a>, which often saves the lives of millions of young children who could become victim to these types of disgusting sexual predators; received a tip several months ago that Hechenberger may have used his role around children to begin the process of befriending them, only to later indulge in his sick and perverse pedophilia fantasies to lure them into his seductive trap and attempt to sexually prey upon the children.

<img src="https://media.8ch.net/file_store/3274db62c1a7c2f343a72294bb5b882bca7a0b1193f5abc9ea152308e80a8d07.jpg" style="max-height:640px;max-width:360px;">

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Gerald Hechenberger. Credit: Gerald Hechenberger | Facebook</span>

The Belleville Police Department then began monitoring electronic communication of Hechenberger, both inside of the Holy Childhood Catholic Church and at his home with assistance from both the ICAC Task Force, the Illinois Attorney General's Office, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the<a href="https://m.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2018/01/10/catholic-priest-gerald-hechenberger-busted-with-meth-child-porn-in-metro-east"> Riverfront Times</a>.

It wouldn't take long before the law enforcement agencies would be able to see Hechenberger using peer-to-peer (p2p) file sharing software to both send and receive sexually explicit images and videos of prepubescent children being raped, molested, sodomized, and physically abused, on multiple computers and electronics devices.

Keep in mind Hechenberger worked with young children, from the age of infants, to preschoolers, to adolescent kids, to teenagers, to young adults.

This is sick. He's supposed to be a Priest, spreading the word of God unto these children; and,, instead Hechenberger was a demonic entity who wanted to sexually abuse them.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for both the Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church and Hechenberger’s home, and planned a raid and execution in the early morning hours.

<img src="https://media.8ch.net/file_store/e8574f59477d99c82a57868bb51db739ac147395e7c5c248b97ecda5ff9ec463.jpg" style="max-height:640px;max-width:360px;">

<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church. Credit: Google Maps</span>

During that operation, agents and police seized numerous computers, external hard drives, SD cards, camera and video equipment, cell phones, fax machines and printers; and literally every piece of electronics which stores digital memory or could have any evidence such as digital fingerprints tying Hechenberger to the distribution, production, or downloading of child pornography.

Also, during the search and seizure process, authorities also found five grams of methamphetamine inside of the Catholic Church which belonged to Hechenberger.

those, devices law enforcement said there were hundreds of videos, images, and files that contained children younger than thirteen years of age being sexually assaulted by adults.

Not only was this creepy Catholic pedophile involved in preying upon young children, downloading and sending child porn; but he was also a meth addict, or even leaving the possibility that he would use the drugs to manipulate young boys.

Police arrested Hechenberger on Monday, and Tuesday charged him with a whopping 19 charges, seventeen of which are felony crimes.

Authorities say that the charges against Hechenberger are including eighteen counts of disseminating child pornography, and one count of possession of methamphetamine.

“We have been working with Belleville (police) and the task force for several weeks, and we anticipate they will be submitting evidence collected pursuant to a search warrant we issued within the next 48 hours to be reviewed for charges involving Gerald Hechenberger,” St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said.

The<a href="http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article193595019.html"> Belleville-News Democrat </a>says that the Principal from the Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic School sent out an email to family members to let them know of the absolutely sickening charges brought against a pedophile that they had trusted their children with.

Principal Claudia Dougherty wrote in the email to parents saying that Hechenberger was being investigated, but didn't provide full details on what his charges are.

“Good morning, Father Jerry is under investigation. We will share more information when we have it. Your children are safe and sound, primary children are enjoying lunch! Blessings, Claudia,” the email read.

A statement from Archdiocese coming from Bishop Edward K. Braxton said, “This is a very serious matter for Father Hechenberger. At this point, the diocese has no reason to believe that any parishioners are affected by this matter. The diocese is awaiting an update on information from the civil authorities, and has assured them of the Diocese’s full cooperation.”

Back in 2011, Hechenberger also took a leave of absence from St. John the Baptist Parish in Smithton due to 'very serious personal, pastoral and legal challenges', a diocesan letter said at the time.

Belleville Police Master Sgt. Todd Keilbach said, “Police began an investigation that required multiple search warrants, online investigative techniques and surveillance details to bring Hechenberger to justice.”

“Although Belleville Police do not have knowledge of any additional victims, we release this information and encourage parents to speak to their children if they had any contact with Hechenberger,” Sgt. Keilbach said.

Law enforcement are asking that anyone with any information, or as mentioned before, could have had contact with Hechenberger at any of the multiple Catholic Churches he's been employed at; to please contact the Belleville Police Department directly at 618-234-1212 and please provide even the slightest possible tip that could assist with future charges against this evil pedophile.

<strong><span style="color:red;">A Note from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force:</span></strong>

<blockquote>”The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the internet.</blockquote>

<blockquote>”Report suspicion of child sexual exploitation to your local police, your ICAC Task Force or the

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline (www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-843-5678).”</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Goldwater gives a HUGE THANK YOU to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (4,500 Federal, State, & Local Law Enforcement Agencies) & All Detectives, Police, & Prosecutors across America who hunt down sick Pedophiles & Child Porn Rings.<br>God Bless You<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveTheChildren?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveTheChildren</a> <a href="https://t.co/vCJVfQnglZ">pic.twitter.com/vCJVfQnglZ</a></p>— 🔴Red Pill 🚨 (@IWillRedPillYou) <a href="https://twitter.com/IWillRedPillYou/status/951174286064091136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<b>Children are the future. If you or anyone you know has been victim to a vicious pedophile or child sexual predator, we urge you to contact the ICAC Task Force or your local police department.</b>

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