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  Priest Who Pleaded Guilty Gets One Weekend in Jail

Associated Press State & Local Wire
November 28, 2001

A Connecticut priest nearly escaped jail time after being caught in Westchester County's Internet sex sting and admitting his guilt.

The Rev. John Castaldo was sentenced Wednesday to one weekend in jail and five years' probation for describing online - to an investigator he thought was a 14-year-old boy - the sexual activity he wanted to engage in.

He promised County Court Judge John Perrone it would never happen again.

Several other priests were in the courtroom to support Castaldo, 42, who was chaplain at Trinity Catholic High School when he was arrested in May. The Diocese of Bridgeport said, "We invite prayers for Father Castaldo and his family."

Castaldo had been removed from his chaplaincy as well as from parish work at St. Maurice Church in Stamford, and the diocese said his "authorization to function as a priest has been removed."

Castaldo is getting spiritual and psychological counseling, the diocese said.

 
 

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