Former Connecticut Priest Pleads Guilty To Giving Explosives To Juvenile

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYorkAP) -- A former priest in Connecticut pleaded guilty to helping a teen buy thousands of rounds of handgun ammunition, along with two pounds of explosives powder.

Authorities say 58-year-old Paul Gotta, a former administrator of two East Windsor churches, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Hartford to distributing explosive material to a person under 21. He faces up to 10 years in prison at his May 19 sentencing.

Prosecutors say Gotta helped the 17-year-old purchase the ammunition in 2012, bought and then gave the explosives powder to the teen.

In 2013, Gotta was suspended from the priesthood after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor. Prosecutors later dropped the charge as part of a deal in which he pleaded guilty to breach of peace.

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