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	Former Choir Director Dies in Prison By Alyssa Schnugg Sun Herald [Florida] October 24, 2006 http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/102406/ew10.htm?date=102406&story=ew10.htm A former church choir director who spent eight years in prison for molesting two boys in the early 90s died at the Jefferson Correctional Institute in September. Richard Trepinski, 69, died Sept. 30 at the prison in Monticello, Fla. Florida Department of Corrections spokeswoman JoEllyn Rackleff said she could not release further details due to privacy laws. Charlotte County Sheriff's Office spokesman Bob Carpenter said Monday that Trepinski had heart problems. In 1993, Trepinski, the former choir director at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, pleaded no contest to molesting at least two children in the choir in April 1993. He received a 20-year prison sentence but was released in April 2001. Trepinski was charged with molesting one boy during a choir trip in the summer of 1991. Trepinski continued molesting the boy for a year until he threatened to tell, according to court records. Because he was sentenced before legislation was passed in 1995 forcing prisoners to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences, Trepinski was able to shave 12 years from his sentence with gain time. Trepinski was serving 15 years on sexual offender probation in Charlotte County when he was arrested in March for violating his probation for failure to report a change of address. In July, his probation was revoked and he was sent back to prison to finish the 20-year sentence. One of the victims received a $500,000 settlement in 1999 after suing the Catholic Diocese of Venice for failing to protect him from the abuse. Trepinski was arrested in August 2005 for violation of probation after he was seen at Murdock Kid Star Park, but he was found not guilty in February. He said he was there to fill out an application for employment at the flea market adjacent to the child's park. After his arrest in August, he suffered a heart attack while being processed at the Charlotte County Jail. E-mail: schnugg@sun-herald.com
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