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Shawn Ratigan, the Kansas City, Mo., priest who had pleaded guilty to possession and production of child pornography last year, was sentenced to 50 years in prison this afternoon, a local TV station and the Associated Press are reporting. It was Ratigan's case the led to KC Bishop Robert Finn's conviction for child endangerment, a misdemeanor in county court.
Ratigan told the federal judge, "I know that no words will express my sorrow" for the hurt he caused people who trusted him and "the church I love" but he said 50 years in prison was too long. He asked for 15 years.
The judge to the recommendation of the federal prosecutor and sentenced the 47-year-old Ratigan to 50 years.
For more details see the Kansas City Star's report: Ratigan‘s punishment for lurid photographs of young girls: 50 years
