Big Predator Priest Trial Starts Soon

SNAP
June 13, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mo_big_predator_priest_trial_starts_soon

In two weeks, the child sexual abuse trail against a former Catholic priest who lived and worked in Cooper, Boone and Callaway counties is set to begin and a support group is making a “last ditch” effort to find other victims and witnesses.

The accused is Gerald (“Jerry”) Howard who worked at a St. Peter & Paul Catholic church in Boonville. In the 1980s, he was a priest in New Jersey and was convicted of molesting a boy in the Jersey City area.

His Catholic supervisors then let Howard legally change his name – from Carmine Sita to Jerry Howard – and sent him to the Jefferson City diocese, without warning parishioners or the public, where he sexually assaulted at least four boys – three in Cooper County and one in Boone County.

“Now is the time – right now – for every single person who saw, suspected or suffered Howard's crimes to speak up,” said David Clohessy of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “If you have any knowledge of or suspicions about Howard – or other child molesting clerics – stop being a coward and call law enforcement immediately.”

After leaving Boonville, Howard worked as a counselor in Boone and in Callaway counties, including a stint at the now-shuttered Charter Hospital in Columbia.

The prosecutor is Doug Abele of Cooper County (ccpa@c-magic.com, 660-882-7577). Howard is represented by attorney Jim Rutter of Columbia (573 303 3909, info@criminallawattorneycolumbiamo.com). In civil suits, Howard's victims have been represented by attorney Bryan Bacon of Columbia (573 874 7777), Ken Chackes of St. Louis (314 369 3902) and Greg Gianforcaro of New Jersey.

A photo of Fr. Howard, and other information, is available at

[bishop-accountability.org]

and

[bishop-accountability.org]

The judge is Robert L. Koffman.

Ata least one civil lawsuit against Howard and his Catholic supervisors has been settled.

[bishop-accountability.org]

More information on the case is available at CaseNet.