Priest Accused of Criminal Sexual Contact, by Russell Ben-Ali, The Star-Ledger, June 3, 2008

Priest Accused of Criminal Sexual Contact

By Russell Ben-Ali
The Star-Ledger
June 3, 2008

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/priest_accused_of_criminal_sex.html

A priest at a Fair Lawn Catholic church was arrested today and charged with criminal sexual contact after he was accused of forcing a 72-year-old female parishioner to touch him, authorities said.

Rev. Edson Fernando Costa, 39, of West Orange, surrendered to Fair Lawn police today after detectives obtained a formal statement from his alleged victim, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said today in a statement.

Father Edson Fernando Costa, 39, a priest at The Roman Catholic Church at St. Anne's in Fair Lawn.

The victim reported the incident first to her pastor at St. Anne's Parish in Fair Lawn and later to the Archdiocese of Newark, Molinelli said. She accused Costa of taking her hand and forcing her to touch him in a sexual manner, the prosecutor said.

The incident occurred inside St. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Fair Lawn while Edson and the woman discussed upcoming church activities, said Joseph Macellaro, the prosecutor's chief of detectives. The date of the alleged incident is unclear, he said.

Costa posted bail, set by a municipal court judge at $2,500, and was released by Fair Lawn police on the condition that he have no contact with the victim or her family. Costa was placed on leave by the archdiocese, Molinelli said.