Former priest convicted of possessing child pornography

Sentencing is June 6 for James Beine, a former priest and St. Louis public school counselor found guilty today of possessing child pornography.

Beine, 61, sat impassively as jurors returned their verdict in U.S. District Court. He could get about 33 months in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jean Hamilton.

Beine did not testify at his two-day trial.

A federal indictment returned last year said Beine had kiddie porn on a computer disc he had hoped a friend would destroy. Police recovered the disc from the friend’s home near Arnold.

Jurors viewed some of the images today before hearing closing arguments by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin and defense attorney James Martin.

Beine, also known as Mar James, is accused of exposing himself to three boys in a restroom at Patrick Henry School, where he was a counselor until he resigned last year.

In addition, Beine faces a federal charge in Illinois, where authorities allege he had child porn on the hard drive of his home computer in Highland.