Judge Says Victims Include Youth, Church, Community
By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post
May 30, 2007
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6024044
Fort Collins - A former Fort Collins priest not only permanently scarred the 17-year-old boy he sexually abused, but also the city and the church where he worked, a district judge said Wednesday.
The decisions made by 44-year-old Timothy Joseph Evans "caused great pain and trauma," said Judge Jolene Blair before she sentenced Evans to at least 14 years in prison, and possibly life.
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Timothy Joseph Evans told the judge Wednesday in Fort Collins that he'll appeal his conviction. Photo by The AP / V. Richard Haro |
"You also caused great angst to the Catholic community in Fort Collins and to the community as a whole," Blair said. "You further fed the mistrust of the secular community toward organized religion."
Evans admitted nothing to Blair before she passed sentence on him. His attorney had argued previously that Evans lovingly roughhoused with the 17-year-old but it never was a sexual relationship.
"I may have loved recklessly and foolishly," Evans said. He told Blair he will appeal his conviction.
A jury in March found Evans guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and one count of sexual assault on a child with a pattern of abuse.
Evans is scheduled to be sentenced today in a similar case in Jefferson County.
He is the only Colorado clergyman to be convicted in the wake of the national priest-abuse scandals that first emerged in 2002.
The 17-year-old, now 26, told jurors he was molested twice by Evans in 1999 in the rectory of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fort Collins, where Evans was a priest from 1998 to 2002.
Three others - all male - testified about similar sexual touching by Evans.
He was removed from the St. Elizabeth ministry in Fort Collins in 2002, immediately after the first allegations surfaced, the Archdiocese of Denver said Wednesday.
"Our prayers and support go out to Timothy Evans' victims and their families," Archbishop Charles Chaput said in a statement. "I deeply regret the pain that these damaging events have caused."
Blair pointed out that the Larimer County jury found Evans' accusers credible. The men came forward despite being ostracized by church members, she said.
"The idea that they continue to be criticized is truly astonishing," Blair said.
Evans' supporters testified he was a dedicated counselor.
Hollis Wakeford said he helped her recover from alcohol and drug addiction. "He's the most kind, compassionate and giving person I have ever known," Wakeford said. "If I had not met him, I would have died."
As Evans left the courtroom shackled and in his orange jail clothes, members of the church yelled to him "We love you, Tim," and "Hang in there, Tim."
The 26-year-old, Nick Gerber, said Evans was a master manipulator of young parishioners. Gerber, who allowed reporters to use his name Wednesday, testified Evans tried to drive a wedge between him and his parents.
"It's comforting that he is going away for a long time," Gerber said. "It's sad that some people still support him."
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
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