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	Ex-Priest in Custody, Accused of Bail Jumping Hanley, Who Has Admitted to Molesting Children, Had Missed Hudson Court Date By Abbott Koloff Daily Record February 1, 2008 http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/COMMUNITIES27/802010333 A defrocked priest from Morris County and admitted child molester has been arrested and is being charged with bail jumping for missing a Hudson County court date late last year, authorities said on Thursday. James T. Hanley, former pastor at St. Joseph's in Mendham, had skipped a Dec. 7 hearing at which he was expected to be sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to a weapons charge related to a 2006 confrontation with workers at a hotel. Hanley allegedly waved a baseball bat in a dispute over a bill at the Extended Stay Hotel in Secaucus. He was arrested by Paterson police on Dec. 29, according to authorities, and was transferred to Hudson County, where a warrant had been issued for his arrest. He told police that he was homeless, Hudson County authorities said. Howard Bell, a Hudson County assistant prosecutor, said on Wednesday that he was preparing to file fourth-degree bail jumping charges against Hanley. Those charges carry a maximum of 18 months in state prison, he said. "If his attorney wants to offer an explanation to the court as to why he didn't appear, he'll have the opportunity to do so," Bell said. Did not respond Hanley's public defender did not respond to a phone message on Thursday. Hanley has admitted to molesting at least a dozen children at three Morris County churches but wasn't charged with crimes because they were made public after the statute of limitations had expired. He cooperated with some of his victims by giving a statement in a lawsuit that led to a $5 million settlement paid by the Paterson Roman Catholic Diocese. He spent a year in jail on charges related to the 2006 hotel incident but was released late last year after pleading guilty to a weapons charge. His plea deal called for him to receive no additional jail time, but he was expected to show up in court for sentencing. An arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear. Abbott Koloff can be reached at (973) 428-6636 or akoloff@gannett.com.
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