FBI seeks former Selah youth pastor on child porn charges THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
YAKIMA, Wash. -- A former youth pastor in nearby Selah is being sought on federal child pornography charges in a case stemming from a Seattle police sting, authorities said.
Jim Cannel, 45, apparently left for California after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Yakima, according to an FBI news release issued Thursday. He was described as 5-foot-6 and about 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
Cannel worked for about four months at Selah Covenant Church but resigned shortly after he was arrested Feb. 25 in Selah by police from Seattle. Officers said he used a church computer to try to arrange sex with a detective posing as a 12-year-old boy.
According to a statement issued by the church, Cannell already had been suspended because of reports that he possessed child pornography with the intent to sell, used the Internet inappropriately and engaged in behavior unbecoming a pastor.
Cannell was booked at the King County Jail, then was released while charges were pending. The case eventually was referred to the FBI, and he was indicted last Tuesday on charges of receiving and distributing pornographic and obscene images of children.
Court records indicate Cannel's last residence in the state was in Yakima.