By Walter O'brien
Home News Tribune
September 6, 2008
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/CRIME/80905020
FLEMINGTON — A former pastor of a Roman Catholic church has been sentenced to another term in prison for his conviction on child sex abuse charges.
The Rev. John Banko, 62, was sentenced Friday morning to 18 years in prison for first-degree aggravated sexual assault and eight years for second-degree endangering the welfare of a child from 1994-95 during his tenure at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Milford.
Jurors convicted Banko on May 13 after deliberating only a few hours. He was charged with the offenses in 2006.
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| John Banko, former priest at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Milford |
Banko already is serving a 15-year term at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel for his 2002 conviction of molesting a former altar boy from 1993-94.
“The defendant continues to be in denial,'' Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Solari said of Banko. “Despite five years of therapy and treatment, he denies he did anything wrong to his last victim and this one.''
Solari told the court that after an evaluation by doctors at the center in Avenel, doctors there feel that Banko still shows a pattern of repetitive and compulsive sexual behavior, and blames the victims for his situation.
“The state requests the maximum sentence to keep this man off the streets,'' Solari said.
The victim stood calmly in a dark suit and asked the court to give Banko the maximum sentence, not to fix the past, but so it “takes away the chance of it happening to anyone else.''
The boy's father spoke of his family's decision to raise their son Catholic because of their belief in the church.
“What Banko did to our son is inexcusable,'' the father said tearfully. “ I hope this court gives this man the maximum sentence.''
After describing her son's behavioral decline, including blacking over his windows, getting hooked on prescription drugs, and “complete meltdowns,'' the victim's mother also requested the maximum.
“It's been a real hell,'' she said.
Public Defender Peter Abatemarco said that Banko declined to speak on his own behalf, because he “just wasn't up to it today.'' Abatemarco requested a light sentence due to the defendant's age and health.
Judge Mahon described claims of sodomy in the parish center, explaining that the entire family “suffered mightily.''
Mahon then sentenced Banko to 18 years out of a possible 20 in New Jersey state prison on the aggravated sexual assault charge with no parole for seven years, and eight years out of a possible 10 for endangering the welfare of a child with no parole for three years.
The terms are to run concurrently, but consecutively to the term Banko already is serving at Avenel.
Mahon also said that told the court that Banko must register under New Jersey's Sexual Offenders Act, and must pay $10,597.17 restitution to the Violent Crimes Violations Board for money the board paid to the victim's family for counseling.
“I'm completely satisfied with the sentence on behalf of the victim and his family,'' Solari said. “The fact that he has been in therapy for five years and is still in denial makes him potentially dangerous.''
Solari said that Banko had expressed hopes that “with the stroke of the pen'' the bishop of the diocese could return him to active practice. Upon Banko's conviction in May, Diocese of Metuchen spokeswoman Joanne Wood said that no decision had been made on whether Banko would be defrocked.
The diocese issued a statement Friday that said “The sentencing of Father Banko brings another painful chapter to a close and for that we are grateful. We hope that the victim and his family will now be able to begin a new phase of their lives wherein they will find peace and solace. We trust that Father Banko will accept the court's sentence and eventually find peace with himself.'' The diocese would not comment further on the possibility of Banko being returned to active priesthood.
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