RICHMOND (VA)
WVEC-TV, ABC-13 [Hampton VA]
May 20, 2024
By Kathleen Lundy and Alex Littlehales
The Diocese of Richmond said on Friday it has learned of allegations that a now deceased man sexually abused students of St. John the Apostle Catholic School.
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A day after the Catholic Diocese of Richmond said they learned of allegations of sexual abuse against students of St. John the Apostle School, 13News Now obtained court records of a previous sexual abuse case from 2021 in which the school is mentioned several times throughout the documents.
According to court documents from Virginia Beach, a man named Vince Jakawich was the subject of an investigation in which he faced a felony aggravated sexual battery of a minor charge stemming from an unspecified incident in the summer months of 2020.
Bond documents filed by Jakawich’s legal counsel reveal he was a parent, who requested to be allowed back to St. John, “where his daughters are students.”
Both court documents and public statements from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond do not link the alleged incident to happening on the grounds of St. John the Apostle.
They go on to say he “immediately turned himself in” following knowledge of the charge, and had conditions such as not having any minor in his home other than his own children and being forbidden from entering St. John’s Catholic School “based on a proffer from the Commonwealth Attorney that the alleged victim remained enrolled in that school.”
A spokesperson for the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney’s Office confirmed that the condition was written because that is where the alleged victim attended school.
The announcement from the Diocese of Richmond stated the adult at the center of their investigation is now deceased and that law enforcement agencies are involved. The Diocese said it is also investigating if its Safe Environment regulations or other policies were followed.
The same bond motion reads that the Virginia Beach Child Protective Services interviewed both the defendant [Jakawich] and the alleged victim, and “determined the allegation of abuse to be unfounded.”
He was listed as being an active duty servicemember at the time of the case. A bail determination sheet listed his employer as the United States Navy.
“The Diocese is committed to ensuring that our institutions provide an environment where our children are safe and thrive,” the statement reads.
The Diocese of Richmond said that Fr. Rob Cole, Pastor of St. John the Apostle parish, is on leave while the investigation is ongoing, but that conclusions won’t be reached until the investigation is completed.
In the meantime, Very Reverend Esteban De Leon, VF, pastor of the Sea Catholic Church has been appointed as a temporary administrator for the parish.
The Diocese also said the Office of Catholic Schools will provide additional support to school administration.
Stay with 13News Now as the story develops.