January 14, 2005

Teen to be tried as adult in Costa case

SPRINGFIELD (IL)
SJ-R.com

By CHRIS DETTRO
STAFF WRITER

A 15-year-old boy will be tried in adult court on charges he and another teen beat Monsignor Eugene Costa in Douglas Park four days before Christmas.

Associate Judge George Ray found probable cause that Ryan Boyle committed aggravated battery and said it would not serve the public interest to keep the charges against him in juvenile court.

Boyle and Jamie E. Gibson, 17, of the 1100 block of Spring Street are accused of beating Costa, who was severely injured. He was found by a Springfield Park District officer near the Douglas Park band shell about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 21. ...

According to a news release issued by the diocese Tuesday, Costa resigned to deal with "inappropriate," "risky" and "immoral" behavior that has come to light since the beating and to concentrate on his recovery.

Posted by kshaw at January 14, 2005 10:09 AM