Hudson Line
June 4, 2006
http://thecanessacorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/roman-catholic-priest-rev-edson-costa.html
The Rev. Edson Fernando Costa, 39, of West Orange, a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, has been arrested and charged with one count of criminal sexual contact, a fourth-degree crime, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced.
 |
Costa was a priest at Saint Anne's Parish in Fair Lawn at the time of the alleged incident. His residence is currently listed as Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, West Orange, though he is not currently listed as a member of the parish's staff.
The arrest came about as a result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Squad, under the direction of Chief Joseph Macellaro, and the Fair Lawn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Erik Rose.
 |
A 72-year-old female parishioner of Saint Anne's Parish reported to her pastor and later the Archdiocese of Newark that Fernando Costa had taken her hand and forced her to touch him in a sexual manner. That incident allegedly took place inside Saint Anne's Church while they discussed upcoming church activities. The Archdiocese of Newark subsequently advised law enforcement officials of what had been reported to them, after which detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Squad, and the Fair Lawn Police Department interviewed and obtained a formal statement from the victim.
Today, Costa, accompanied by his attorney, came to the Fair Lawn Police Department and surrendered himself to detectives from that jurisdiction.
Judge David S. Lafferty set bail for Costa at $2,500, with a 10-percent cash option and no contact with the victim or her family.
Costa posted $250 cash bail at the Fair Lawn Police Department and was released
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.