Fr. James Garisto

Ordained for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; taught high school in Philadelphia. Incardinated in 1983 into the NY archdiocese. Placed on leave in 8/2019 due to an allegation of ‘sexual misconduct.’ Accused in a lawsuit filed in 7/2021 under the NY Child Victims Act of sexually abusing a boy beginning when the boy was age 15, from 1993 through 1998. The boy was a student at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, where Garisto was reportedly a biology teacher in the late 1980s and 1990, and a vice-principal and academic dean 1996-1998. Garisto’s accuser claims that the priest started grooming him when he was in grade school and that when he left the high school after sophomore year, Garisto pursued him at his father’s house in PA. Arrested 1/27/2022 on charges of sexually abusing a boy in the Philadelphia area 1995-2002, beginning when the boy was age 10. Garisto owned a home in Fishtown at the time in question. In 3/2022 the charges were withdrawn due to the statute of limitations. Arrested again in Philadelphia 5/4/2022, charged with the sexual abuse of a boy starting when the boy was a 15-year-old altar server at St. Peter’s in Poughkeepsie in 2006, and ending in 2010. Family filed suit against the NY Archdiocese. Pleaded no contest in 6/2023. Sentenced 11/6/2023 to 11 and a half months to 23 months in prison and 4 years’ probation.