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	Ex-Minister Faces Sex-Assault Counts By Frank Juliano Connecticut Post August 27, 2007 http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_6735384 MILFORD — A former minister arrested on sexual assault charges Sunday had resigned from his Bethany church in July when the investigation began, officials said Monday. Stephen J. Wasko, 54, whose address was given by State Police as 66 East Broadway here, is charged with sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor for a series of alleged attacks on two children in Bethany, according to the police report. He was released after posting a $100,000 bond, and is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Sept. 7 in New Haven Superior Court, said Lt. J. Paul Vance, the state police spokesman. Trooper William Tate said that the alleged incidents did not occur in the church — the First Church of Christ Congregational on Amity Road in Bethany. Tate would not say whether the assault allegations involve children who attended the church. The East Broadway address given for Wasko could not be confirmed Monday. The brick condominiums near Walnut Beach have no unit 66, according to city land records, and no one was at home in the adjoining unit when a reporter visited. City land records do not show anyone by that name owning property here and the only telephone listings for Stephen J. Wasko in Connecticut are for a number no longer in service in Bethany and one in Newtown. A message left at the Newtown number was not immediately returned. Vance said the investigation was launched at the request of the state Department of Children and Families. DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt did not return a call seeking comment. Wasko was suspended as the pastor of the Bethany church and from his clerical duties July 2 and later resigned both positions, said the Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree, spokeswoman for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ Congregational. "On behalf of the [church and conference] I want to express heartfelt concern regarding the alleged abusive behavior of Stephen J. Wasko," Crabtree said in a prepared statement. "We hold those who have stated that they have been harmed, as well as Mr. Wasko, his family and the Bethany church, in our prayers. "Although so far as we know no abuse took place within the purview of Mr. Wasko's responsibility as a clergyperson, that does not change the level of our concern. We grieve for all who have been affected by these matters," the spokeswoman wrote. "The whole United Church of Christ takes very seriously all allegations of sexual misconduct. We are especially concerned when they involve minors," she said in her statement. "We have clear teaching and clear policy about such misconduct. These teachings and policies have been followed in this case." The denomination's New Haven Association Committee on the Ministry, which is charged with oversight of the ministerial authorization of UCC ministers in the greater New Haven area, responded as soon as members were informed about the allegations against Wasko, Crabtree said. "He is no longer authorized to do ministry in or on behalf of the United Church of Christ." Although the spokeswoman said that pastoral support is being provided to those affected, the interim pastor of the Bethany church said Monday he has heard no discussion at all of the allegations. "No one said anything yesterday about the former minister being arrested," the Rev. Arthur Latimer said. "I knew that he suddenly left, and my wife and I have been filling in on a very temporary basis since July."
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