ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A Roman Catholic priest from the Hudson Valley is going to federal prison for four years after pleading guilty to downloading child pornography.

Raymond Ethier of Hudson was arrested in May 2007 for having videos and still images of minors engaged in sexual conducted on his home computer when he was the pastor of St. John Vianney in
Philmont in Columbia County.

The 51-year-old pleaded guilty in November to one count of possessing child pornography.

He was sentenced Monday to 48 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. He must also register with the state's sex offender registry and participate in a sex offender program.

The Diocese of Albany permanently removed Ethier from the ministry. He's prohibited from presenting himself in public as a priest.

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