Canada--Catholic official to be sentenced for abuse

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
October 19, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/canada_church_official_sentenced

Catholic official to be sentenced for abuse

Ottawa man was former head of church youth group

He pled guilty last month to child sex crimes back in 1984

The victim will be in the courtroom and will give interviews

In 2002, a civil case against perpetrator & Knights of Columbus was settled

Group says Knights should prod others who were hurt to “come forward, get help, and call police”

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is hoping that the former head a Catholic men’s organization will get the maximum sentence tomorrow in an Ontario courtroom for child sex crimes he admitted committing 30 years ago.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/canada_catholic_official_pleads_guilty_to_child_sex_crimes

For years, Steve Fagan was the State Chair of the Knights of Columbus' Ontario youth auxiliary. In 1984, he sexually violated Todd Marinacci (toddmarinacci@yahoo.com, 647-972-1716).

Marinacci will be in the courtroom and will speak publicly for the first time about his suffering after the sentencing.   

Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, want the New Haven Connecticut-based Knights of Columbus to help find others who may have been sexually assaulted by Fagan. Last month, SNAP wrote the Knights prodding them to “do aggressive outreach” to seek out “others who may have seen, suspected or suffered abuse” by Fagan.

“Such outreach may help prosecutors convince the judge to levy an appropriate sentence,” SNAP's letter said. The group received no response.

"The justice system works best, and kids are protected best, when judges have more information about child molesters before they are punished," said David Clohessy of SNAP. "If there are others victims of Fagan out there, the least the Knights can do is find them and urge them to contact Crown officials in the next few weeks."

The Crown is seeking a six month jail sentence, two years' probation, that Fagan be listed on the sex offender registry.

Fagan was arrested November or December of 2013 for the sexual assault of M_

. At the time of the assault, Fagan was a member of the Knight of Columbus and State Chairman for the Ontario Columbian Squires. The Knights are a 1.8 million member Catholic men's organization and the Squires are the Knights' youth auxiliary. http://www.kofc.org/un/en/squires/index.html.

Fagan used his position as provincial director to target and molest a boy who was a member of the organization. Marinacci, now in his 40s, read a 'victim impact statement' at the hearing in Kingston.

Members of SNAP are also saluting the Marinacci's bravery and tenacity. They also applaud prosecutors, who pursued the case when many other might have passed.

“It takes real courage to step forward, report abuse and seek justice when you've been sexually violated as a child,” said Brenda Brunelle of Windsor, Canada. She's SNAP's Windsor leader. “This courageous young man has successfully stepped forward twice - in both criminal and civil court – and children are safer because of him.”

"All too often, victims hear that they cannot use the criminal courts because too much time has passed," said David Clohessy of SNAP. "The fact that prosecutors pursued this case shows that's not always the case. Smart and determined police and prosecutors can often successfully pursue even older child sex crimes. But first, victims must find the courage and strength to speak up.

SNAP believes that Fagan was expelled from the Knights of Columbus in late 1992 or early 1993.

The hearing was at the Kingston, Ontario Courthouse at 279 Wellington Street, Courtroom 3. Justice Letourneau presided and Assistant Crown Attorney Elisabeth Foxton was the prosecutor.

A copy of SNAP's letter to the Knights is below:

August 18, 2014

Mr. Carl A. Anderson, Knights of Columbus, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510

Dear Mr. Anderson:

We are members of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Our mission is to protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded. We are begging you to do this as well, by taking decisive action to safeguard kids and reaching out to victims.

As you may know, Steve Fagan for years was the State Chair of the Knights' Ontario youth auxiliary. Fagan pleaded guilty last Monday to sexually assaulting a boy in 1984 and is set to be sentenced in October.

Fagan was arrested in November or December of 2013 for the sexual assault of a boy. At the time of the assault, he was a member of the Knight of Columbus and State Chairman for the Ontario Columbian Squires. Fagan used his position as provincial director to target and molest a boy who was a member of the organization and it is likely there are other victims.

We want you to do aggressive outreach to anyone who saw, suspects or suffered crimes by Fagan and urge them to contact secular officials. This kind of outreach may help prosecutors convince the judge to levy an appropriate sentence.

The justice system works best, and kids are protected best, when judges have more information about child molesters before they are punished, if there are others victims of Fagan out there, the least the Knights can do is find them and urge them to contact Crown officials in the next few weeks.

We also want you to publicly release any records you have on Fagan.

We hope you will show real courage and compassion by working hard to prevent future crimes and cover ups and find and help other victims who continue to suffer in silence, shame and self-blame.