OHIO
Fox 8
JUNE 4, 2015, BY DAVE NETHERS
NORTHFIELD, Ohio- A national advocacy group for victims of sex crimes is asking Bishop Richard Lennon of the Diocese of Cleveland to formally discipline a local priest for his support of a high-profile sex offender.
Fr. Ralph Wiatrowski of St. Barnabas Church wrote a letter to Judge Richard Reinbold in April asking for leniency in the sentencing of former Nordonia Hills School Board President Steven Bittle.
Bittle pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. He also staged armed standoff with authorities outside of his Sagamore Hills home last September.
Court records reflect he had long been a member of St. Barnabas Church, where he served on the parish finance council and ministries that served children from preschool to junior high age.
In his letter to the court Fr. Wyatrowski asked judge Reinbold “for any leniency that could be shown to Mr. Bittel.” Twice in the letter, the St. Barnabas pastor asked the court not to send Bittel to prison.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.