Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Ex-priest gets jail time for molesting teens

Two Uxbridge boys abused in 1970s 

WORCESTER— A former priest was sentenced to jail yesterday after pleading guilty last month to charges of rape, assault and battery, furnishing alcohol to a minor and committing an unnatural and lascivious act.

James D. Campbell, 59, a former Catholic priest in West Warwick, R.I., was sentenced to 90 days in the House of Correction with 10 years of probation to follow after admitting Dec. 22 in Worcester Superior Court that he molested two male teenagers in the 1970s in Uxbridge. Mr. Campbell was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in West Warwick at the time of the assaults, which occurred from 1975 to 1978.

The sentence imposed yesterday by Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. was recommended by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers and Mr. Campbell’s lawyer, James McCormick.

As conditions of probation, Mr. Campbell was ordered to register as a sex offender, provide a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and undergo drug, alcohol, sex offender and psychological evaluations and any related treatment recommended by the Probation Department. Mr. Campbell was further ordered to have no contact with the victims and no unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Mr. Campbell, last known to be living with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty last month to single counts of rape and committing an unnatural and lascivious act, and two counts each of assault and battery and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Judge Agnes postponed sentencing until yesterday.

Prosecutors said Mr. Campbell molested the victims after taking them to a restaurant and plying them with alcohol.

Judge Agnes made reference yesterday to what he described as the “extraordinary” impact statement made by one of the victims at the time of Mr. Campbell’s plea and said the man’s agreement with the proposed sentence weighed heavily in his sentencing deliberations.

Judge Agnes cautioned Mr. Campbell that he could be sentenced to up to life imprisonment if he were to violate the terms of his probation after his release from custody.

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Former priest pleads guilty

WORCESTER— The man shook his head in bewilderment as he took the stand in Superior Court yesterday, confronting his former priest, who minutes earlier had pleaded guilty to molesting him as a teenager.

“Where do you begin … to describe the certain pain people like this do to little children?” said the man, who is listed in court records only by his initials, J.H., in an effort to conceal his identity.

“We took a pedophile off the street today, so he can never do this again.”

James D. Campbell, a former Catholic priest in Warwick, R.I., pleaded guilty to rape, admitting he took J.H. and another teenager to a restaurant in Uxbridge nearly 30 years ago and molested them on different occasions.

Mr. Campbell, who was last known to be living with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Pennsylvania, will be sentenced Jan. 10 on charges of rape, two counts of assault and battery, two counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor, and unnatural and lascivious acts.

The assistant district attorney and Mr. Campbell’s lawyer recommended a 90-day jail term followed by 10 years of probation. Superior Court Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. will consider the recommendation Jan. 10.

J.H. said in a victim impact statement yesterday that he is a “compassionate” man and so he agreed with the recommended sentence. Still, he lashed out at his former priest, who was an assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Rhode Island, saying he showed no compassion at all while pleading guilty.

“This guy just doesn’t get it,” J.H. said, urging Judge Agnes to keep in mind the “scar” the former priest left.

“I know you understand, and I know the court understands, but he just doesn’t get it. I did what I had to do and I feel justice has been served,” he said.

Mr. Campbell pleaded guilty to taking two teenagers to a restaurant in Uxbridge in

1975 and 1978, plying them with alcohol and molesting them. J.H., who was 16 in 1975, told police he was molested by the former priest, who was 32 at the time, after they had a meal. They returned to the priest’s car and the priest began touching him and putting his hand under his clothing, he told police.

A second victim, who was 14 at the time, told police Mr. Campbell bought her a meal and drinks and began touching her. She began to complain and the priest grew apologetic and did not rape her, according to statements made in court yesterday.

November 16, 2004

Rev James Campbell case assigned new date November 23, 2004 on trial court computer.

Calenderer search results found that Rev. James Campbell's case now is scheduled for an additional appearance in Worcester Superior Court for Tuesday November 23, 2004. The trial court computer show 19 cases are presently listed on that date.  Rev Campbell's case is listed number 11 and then number 17, 18, 19 all on the same day. 

No additional docket entries have been posted since the last entry dated June 24, 2004 which reads: After hearing - JUDGE BORENSTEIN HAS PAPERS.  This next court appearance would be the third by Rev Campbell this month.  No further information was posted as to the conclusion of today's scheduled appearance.

November 15, 2004

Rev. James D Campbell, to report to Superior Court for another scheduled hearing.

Posting on the Massachusetts trial court computer system in criminal case number WOCR2003-01575 in Worcester superior court pending against Rev. James D Campbell who has pleaded not guilty to 1 count Unnatural Rape, 1 count Unnatural and Lascivious Acts, 2 counts Assault and Battery, and 2 counts Furnishing Alcohol to a minor will again today, have another court appearance.  Rev Campbell  was first indicted October 9, 2003.  

This case has been slow moving in Superior court with dates being rescheduled and conference to continue further motions and actions.

The last four cases against accused clergy, that have been investigated by the Auburn C-Pac Unit of the state police have failed to gain a criminal conviction.  

In the opinion of some legal scholars, Bishop Daniel Reilly who reassigned Rev Peter Inzerillo late December 2000 following the payment in a sexual abuse civil suit to which Rev Inzerillo was a named defendant for $300,000 dollars, and then Bishop Reilly's lack of action while numerous events regarding inappropriate sexual behavior had been reported regarding Rev Inzerillo's short stay at St Leo parish clearly makes the actions of Bishop Daniel Reilly appear prosecutable under the 1993 Mass. General Laws chapter 265, section 13L, Reckless Endangerment to Children.

Presently, Worcester District Attorney John Conte continues to refuse to investigate the hierarchy of the Worcester Catholic church for criminal wrong doing.  No Bishop or Priest from the Worcester Dioceses has ever been questioned by the Auburn C-Pac State police unit since the crisis broke in 2002.

Please email Worcester DA John Conte spokesperson, Liz Stammo, and ask what type of investigation is this?

October 29, 2004

Clergy trial once listed on Worcester DA John Conte's web site postponed.

Posting on the Massachusetts trial court computer system today confirms that prior to the trial date of Rev. James D Campbell the event was rescheduled by the court.  Rev Campbell has pleaded not guilty to 1 count Unnatural Rape, 1 count Unnatural and Lascivious Acts, 2 counts Assault and Battery, and 2 counts Furnishing Alcohol to a minor.  Rev Campbell was first indicted October 9, 2003.  

The charges stem from an incident that allegedly involved a male victim who was 16 at the time. Rev. Campbell was an assistant pastor at St. Joseph's Church, West Warwick, R.I.  Lawyers for the defendant attempted to have the indictment dismissed December 2003.

The two prior docket entries show that in criminal case number WOCR2003-01575 in Worcester superior court that two pretrial conferences, one on October 12, and one October 22 were held as scheduled.  Presently, this case currently stands before the court rescheduled for a November 1, 2004 status review hearing.  It is possible at this hearing for district attorney Conte to drop the criminal charges which currently are pending, or Rev Campbell to plead guilty 

Rev. Campbell would be the seventh clergyman to face criminal charges in Central Massachusetts by information provided by an investigation conducted by John Conte's C-Pac state police unit currently directed by Captain Thomas G. Greene.  Rev. David L. Blizard, Brother Louis Laperle, and Rev. Andrew J. Bierkan, were found not guilty at trial.  Rev. Paul Desilets still remains in Canada, awaiting extradition and Rev. John J. Szantyr criminal case has been placed on hold for an undisclosed reasons. Only the Rev. Robert Kelly who pleaded guilty has faced punishment in the criminal justice system.

In Worcester District Court, a criminal case against the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, charged with indecent assault on a person over 14 currently remains at pre-trial conference status. In an unusual move the case was transferred from Uxbridge district court to Worcester district court at the last court date. The Rev Jean-Paul Gagnon is being defended by Attorney Edward Ryan of Fitchburg.  Attorney Ryan also represented Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon in a civil suit for sexual abuse allegations by a different male. That case was settled for an undisclosed amount.

After the case against Rev Andrew Biekan ended with a not guilty verdict, District Attorney John Conte removed his criminal prosecution page from his web site.  At first his staff only removed the link but when a voice article pointed out the pages were still available by typing in the direct address, the pages were removed from the server.  Currently on the District Attorney John Conte's server the Rev. Robert Kelley page is still available by direct address, (or at lest until he reads this article http://www.worcesterda.com/Clergy/Kelley.html).

Lt Frank Moore, was commander of the Auburn C-Pac unit when the only investigation since the 2002 sexual abuse scandal broke that gained a conviction against a Worcester Dioceses Catholic Priest was conducted.  Trooper Thomas Ryan and Trooper Marian McGovern the primary investigators in the Robert Kelley case along with Lt Moore, their supervisor were all removed by District Attorney John Conte from the Auburn C-Pac State Police unit.

If this criminal case fails to gain a conviction, this will be the fourth prosecutorial failure.

Saturday, September 13, 2003

Priest is indicted in Uxbridge case

Kathleen A. Shaw
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- The Rev. James D. Campbell, 58, was indicted yesterday by a Worcester County grand jury in connection with a 1975 incident in Uxbridge and charged with unnatural rape, assault and battery and providing alcoholic beverages to a minor.

Rev. Campbell was last known to be living with Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Center Valley, Pa., and is believed to be living at 330 Station Ave., Center Valley, District Attorney John J. Conte said. Rev. Campbell will be arraigned at a later date in Worcester Superior Court, Mr. Conte said.

The three indictments relate to an incident that allegedly involved a male victim who was 16 at the time. The victim was not named.

Rev. Campbell was an assistant pastor at St. Joseph's Church, West Warwick, R.I., at the time of the incident, Mr. Conte said. A spokeswoman for the Providence Diocese said yesterday it had not been informed of the indictment and could not comment.

State police detectives attached to the district attorney's office have been investigating the allegations involving Rev. Campbell for a year, Mr. Conte said. Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers of the child abuse unit is prosecuting the case.

This is the seventh clergyman to face criminal charges in Central Massachusetts this year. All but one live out of state.

Mr. Conte is seeking the extradition of the Rev. Paul Desilets from Canada. He faces 18 grand jury indictments alleging that he sexually abused several boys at Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Bellingham. The extradition issue is still before the courts in Canada. Rev. Desilets left Massachusetts for Canada several years ago.

The Rev. David L. Blizard, who served at several parishes in the Worcester diocese until leaving in 1988, will be back in Brockton Superior Court on Oct. 2 for a pretrial hearing on a sexual misconduct allegation that occurred with an underage male several years ago in Wareham. He is now living in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. Mr. Conte turned that case over to the Plymouth County district attorney because the incident is alleged to have occurred in that jurisdiction.

The Rev. John J. Szantyr of Waterbury, Conn., is due back in Worcester Superior Court on Oct. 14 for pretrial conference in connection with three charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. The district attorney's office alleges that he sexually molested a Worcester boy in the 1980s, when he was assigned to Our Lady of Czestochowa parish.

Brother Louis Laperle, former principal of Notre Dame High School, Fitchburg, faces three charges of assault and battery alleging that he sexually abused a student at the high school from January to June 1968. The man, now age 51 and living in Lunenburg, according to state police reports, ended the alleged abuse by going home and never returning to the school.

Brother Laperle, who now lives in Rhode Island, is due back in court for arraignment Sept. 23. Mr. Conte said they had to limit the charges to misdemeanor assault and battery because the charges of indecent assault and battery did not exist at the time of the alleged incidents.

The Rev. Andrew J. Bierkan, 54, former minister at the First Congregational Church, Sutton, and now living in Ohio, has been arraigned on one charge of unnatural rape of a child and one charge of posing a minor in a state of nudity. Pretrial conference is set for Oct. 9 in Worcester Superior Court.

The Rev. Robert E. Kelley, who recently pleaded guilty to unnatural rape of two girls when he was associate pastor at St. Cecilia's Church, Leominster, is to be sentenced in Worcester Superior Court on Oct. 1.