The Lehigh County District Attorney’s office announced Sept. 13 Msgr. John Stephen Mraz, 66, formerly of 415 S. 6th St., Emmaus and now residing at Holy Family Villa for Priests, Bethlehem, has been charged with sexual abuse of children and criminal use of communication facility, both felonies of the third degree; and obscene and other sexual materials and performances, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

According to a press release from the district’s attorney’s office, during the week of July 25, 2016, Msgr. Mraz allegedly requested a friend and parishioner to perform maintenance updates and to upgrade his HP laptop. In doing so, the parishioner discovered files in the computer’s recycle bin depicting images of nude males.

The parishioner returned the laptop to the monsignor, whereupon Mraz allegedly asked him to update another laptop. In the process of upgrading the second laptop, the parishioner discovered a file with a name suggesting it contained obscene images of underage males. These discoveries made the parishioner uncomfortable and he informed the Diocese of Allentown about what he had found on Mraz’s laptops.

The Diocese promptly relayed the information to Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin. Martin assigned Detective Andrew Millen, a child abuse investigator for the district attorney, and Detective Paul Iannace, of the digital crime task force and the Officer David M. Petzold Digital Forensic Laboratory of Lehigh County, located on the campus of DeSales University, to investigate.

The district attorney’s office said as part of that investigation, a search warrant was executed at Mraz’s residence in Emmaus. Digital devices were seized and submitted for digital forensic analysis.

“As a result of the analysis, it is alleged that the user of the devices actively searched the Internet looking for images and videos of underage males engaged in sex acts. It is alleged that numerous image files of child pornography were on the devices as well.”

Investigation determined that the Defendant was the user who searched for and downloaded the files of child pornography and did so for his own sexual gratification.”

At the press conference, District Attorney Jim Martin commended and thanked the Diocese of Allentown and Bishop Barres for their cooperation and prompt reporting of the incident. He also commended Detectives Millen and Iannace for their effective and expeditious handling of this case.

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, John Stephen Mraz, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Rev. Msgr. Mraz was the fourth pastor of The Church of St. Ann, Emmaus. He was appointed in 2008 following the retirement of Rev. Msgr. Thomas E. Hoban. Hoban was pastor of the church from 1986 to 2008.

Immediately following the announcement, the Diocese of Allentown issued the following statement.

“Criminal charges have been filed today against Monsignor John Mraz, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown.

“Last month, the presence of suspicious content on Monsignor’s computer was brought to the attention of the Diocese. The Diocese immediately notified law enforcement officials and cooperated completely with the investigation that resulted in the charges filed today.

“Monsignor Mraz was ordained in 1975. He was a professor at the former Reading Central Catholic High School, Allentown Central Catholic High School and Vice Principal and Director of Spiritual Activities at Marian High School in Tamaqua. He was chaplain at the Newman Center at Lehigh University and Assistant Superintendent in the Diocesan Office of Education. He was pastor of the former St. Bertha Parish in Tuscarora, at Assumption B.V.M, Northampton and since 2008 at St. Ann Parish in Emmaus.

“Monsignor Mraz has been removed from public ministry and cannot present himself as a priest.

“Because this matter is now in the hands of the judicial system, the Diocese will withhold further comment.”