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Allentown Priest Accused Of Using Snapchat To Send Sexually Explicit Images To Underage Girl

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- An Allentown priest is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with an underage girl. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced Tuesday that 30-year-old Father Kevin Lonergan, of Pottsville, has been charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors.

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Martin says Lonergan met the 17-year-old girl before mass at the Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Allentown in August 2017. Lonergan allegedly got the girl's phone number through another member of the church.

Father Kevin Lonergan
(credit: The Republican-Herald)

Martin says Lonergan sent sexually explicit images to the girl using Snapchat, including sending nudes photos of himself.

WATCH LIVE: Lehigh County DA to announce charges against Roman Catholic priest. This comes days after a grand jury report rocked Pennsylvania. https://cbsloc.al/2MnRGdQ UPDATE: Father Kevin Lonergan is accused of using Snapchat to send sexually explicit images to a 17-year-old girl. https://cbsloc.al/2N6RyMO

Posted by CBS Philly on Tuesday, August 21, 2018

He is also accused of grabbing the girl's buttocks in February 2018 when he hugged the alleged victim.

The Diocese of Allentown says it received the allegation from the girl in June and immediately reported it to the district attorney.

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Lonergan most recently served as an assistant pastor at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

Lonergan's bail was set at $50,000 and he has been released from Lehigh County Jail.

The charges against Lonergan are not related to last week's grand jury report that alleges 300 priests molested more than 1,000 children.

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