By Jim Lockwood
The Star-Ledger
October 29, 2009
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/janitor_charged_in_chatham_pri.html
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| Jose Feliciano, left, is lead into Superior Court in Morristown for his first appearance before the Honorable Thomas Manahan. Feliciano is charged in the death of Rev. Edward Hinds, of St. Patrick's Church in Chatham. Photo by Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger |
CHATHAM -- A church janitor accused of murdering a Chatham priest was wanted in Philadelphia for the 1988 indecent assault of a minor and had been using several false names and social security numbers over the years, authorities said in Superior Court in Morristown today.
Jose Feliciano, who was charged with beating and repeatedly stabbing 61-year-old Father Edward Hinds in Chatham’s St. Patrick Church rectory a week ago, appeared dazed and confused as he was led in shackles into the courtroom.
Appearing with his public defenders, Feliciano answered "yes" to Judge Thomas Manahan when asked if he had received the complaint against him. Manahan then converted Feliciano’s bail from $1 million in cash or property, to cash only.
During the hearing, Morris County Assistant prosecutor Leslie Wade told the Superior court judge that there "was an open arrest" in Philadelphia for Feliciano, 64, issued 21 years ago. The charges were indecent assault without consent, simple assault and corruption of a minor, according to records on file with the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County.
Feliciano was arrested on the illegal sexual contact charges on April 2, 1988 in Philadelphia but failed to appear for his hearing a month later, at which time a bench warrant was issued.
Over the years, Feliciano adopted various aliases, including "Carlos Feliciano" and "Jose Lobo," said prosecutors, and changed his date of birth and social security number several times.
A possible motive for the slaying also was revealed in a four-page search warrant filed at a district court in Wind Gap, Pa.
Several weeks prior to his murder, the parish priest discovered that Feliciano’s employment record did not include the requisite citation indicating he had passed a background investigation.
Hinds’ review might have been prompted by diocesan efforts six months ago to ensure that all parishes and schools complied with diocesan policies on criminal background checks.
In 1986, state law began requiring public schools to run background checks on employees. Three years later, private and religious schools were granted use of government resources to check their employees. It was not mandatory, but all five Roman Catholic dioceses in the state immediately required their schools to participate.
In 2003, in the aftermath of the clergy sex abuse scandal, Catholic parishes began requiring that even volunteers have background checks.
"In March, it just so happens, we reemphasized and redoubled our efforts to ensure that every single school, every single parish, was compliant," said Kenneth Mullaney, an attorney for the Paterson Diocese. "My speculation is that perhaps the current issue had to do with that effort."
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, just two days before his murder, Hinds told St. Patrick school principal Marianne Hobbie of the discrepancy and said he might have to "let go" Feliciano, according to court records.
On Thursday evening, Oct. 22, after the parish priest informed Feliciano about problems with his "continued employment" at St. Patrick, the church janitor apparently flew into a rage, authorities said.
Mullaney said the diocese believes Feliciano had a background check soon after he was hired in 1992.
At the hearing, assistant prosecutor Wade told the judge that the case against the janitor was "very strong."
Feliciano allegedly confessed to police when he was arrested last Friday after feigning surprise at finding Hinds’ body and, according to witnesses, halfheartedly attempting CPR.
Later, the priest’s cell phone was traced to a park opposite Feliciano’s home in Easton, Pa. A kitchen knife and bloody rags were also found in the park, and dried blood was found on Feliciano’s cuticles as well as in the sinks at his home, Wade said.
"That the Father was stabbed 32 times created a situation where there was a lot of blood at the crime scene," he told the judge. "We can start to see how the defendant was trying to cover up this crime."
Feliciano had been held at Morristown Memorial Hospital since his arrest, but according to two officials recently was transferred to the Ann Klein Forensic Center, a special psychiatric facility for patients in the judicial system.
John Polanin, a St. Patrick parish trustee, said Feliciano’s past and alleged attempts to cover up a crime were "shocking" and out of character.
"It’s very surprising to me, knowing that something like that could be in his past. It’s not consistent with the way he acted while he worked for us," Polanin said.
He then recalled a summer pool party at Feliciano’s home shortly after he moved his family to Easton: "Everything seemed to be going very well for Jose and his family,"
The wake for Hinds is taking place today at St. Patrick Church at 11 a.m. and continuing until 10 p.m. The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m. Some 400 members of the clergy are expected to attend.
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