MO- Trial set for predator priest
For immediate release: Monday, Jan. 21 2014
For more information: David Clohessy, 314 566 9790, [email protected]. SNAP, P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, IL 60680-6416
Trial set for predator priest
He was convicted before in 1980s
Now, he's accused of molesting again
Cleric was in three mid-Missouri counties
After leaving his Catholic post, he was a counselor
A June 26 trial date has been set for a criminal child sex abuse case against a former Catholic priest who lived and worked in Cooper, Boone and Callaway counties.
The accused is Gerald (“Jerry”) Howard who worked at a Boonville Catholic church. 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 him change his name – from Carmine Sita to Jerry Howard – and sent him to the Jefferson City diocese, where he sexually assaulted several boys.
“We hope that every single person who saw, suspected or suffered Howard's crimes will find the strength to speak up now,” 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 – now is the time to step forward.”
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 ([email protected], 660-882-7577). Howard is represented by attorney Jim Rutter of Columbia (573 303 3909, [email protected]). 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 BishopAccountability.org.
The judge is Robert L. Koffman.
More information on the case is available at CaseNet.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director