Outrageous Sentence for Crimes against Teens, Karen Araiza, NBC Philadelphia, March 13, 2009

"Outrageous" Sentence for Crimes against Teens

By Karen Araiza
NBC Philadelphia
March 13, 2009

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Outrageous-Sentence-for-Crimes-Against-Teens-Bucks-County-Deputy-District-Attorney.html

The investigation began in September of 2008 when Richland Township Police discovered Cappuccio and a 17-year-old male, both partially-dressed, parked in a vehicle behind a shopping center.

Remember these two names because if you don't get disgusted over this, one man gets a slap on the wrist for crimes against teenaged boys and the other gets away with a crime of conscience.

Anthony Cappuccio, 32, admitted he plied three teens with alcohol and drugs and had an ongoing sexual relationship with one of them. At the time, Cappuccio was the golden boy; married with children, a deputy district attorney for Bucks County and very involved in his church. That's how he met his prey. He was their youth leader.

Then he was caught, half naked, parked behind a shopping center with one of the teens.

This week, Cappuccio got sentenced to house arrest. Maybe as little as three months. Possilby 23 months. You can thank Judge C. Theodore Fritsch Jr. for that.

Cappuccio and Fritsch do share some history. Cappuccio was an intern when Fritsch was a high-ranking prosecutor in the DA's office. Fritsch oversaw at least on of Cappuccio's cases that summer. Conflict? Apparently not.

To fully appreciate how wrong this one feels, take a minute and read the article in the Bucks County Courier Times. It's the best account of the manipulation and vindictiveness that went on, even as Cappuccio faced and then infuriated the victims' parents in court.

Sex abuse advocates are also steamed.

"The only thing more dangerous than a child molester is a child molester who's savvy, aggressive, desperate enough to abuse a kid during a criminal probe and manipulative enough to try to thwart that probe. And the only thing more sad than seeing an admitted sex offender get a light sentence is knowing how that sentence jeopardizes other innocent kids," said Barbara Dorris with SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Judge Fritsch could have sent Cappuccio to jail for up to 18 months. Instead, he sent him home. He'll be able to leave the house for work and for Dr.'s appointments. He also has to do 200 hours of community service. Tough love, huh?