A former Washington County priest, Fr. Anthony Jablonowski was notified this week that Pope Benedict XVI has declared (defrocked) him no longer a member of the clergy, following his sexual abuse of a 17-year-old boy. Anthony Jablonowski, 69, who still resides at a religious community he helped establish in 1997 in Waterford, was the priest at St. John’s Catholic Church in Churchtown when allegations arose that he had abused a minor while serving as a priest in Wyoming in the 1980s. He had also briefly served as an associate pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marietta during his 36 years as a priest. Jablonowski pleaded guilty and served part of the 15-month to seven-year sentence he received. Since 2003, he had been under directives from the Diocese of Steubenville not to publicly identify himself as a priest, engage in public ministry or associate himself with a religious order. The pope’s decree is a final step in the process, said Monsignnor Gerald Calovini, spokesman for the Diocese of Steubenville, Friday. Pope Benedict XVI issued the decree on April 7 but Jablonowski was not notified until Tuesday. Calovini said Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of the Diocese of Steubenville informed Jablonowski of the decision in person. It means the Washington County man can no longer exercise any priestly functions or present himself as a priest. http://www.tldm.org/News9/PopeBenedictDefrocksFr.Jablonowski.htm

Take the child sex abuse that Randall Ralston, who coached basketball at five local high schools and in a youth league, was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges he had unlawful sex with several girls. All three of the teenage girls he was charged with having sex with had been coached by Ralston, 39. “It shows a predatory behavior on your part, and that makes recidivism more likely,” said Judge William Walker of Clermont County Common Pleas Court. After getting out of prison, Ralston will be required to register with police as a sex offender every 90 days for the rest of his life. The schools where Ralston coached included Indian Hill (2006-07), Mariemont (2003-06), Summit (2000-03) and St. Ursula (200-01), said Daniel “Woody” Breyer, chief deputy prosecutor. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketball/2009-02-09-ohio-coach-abuse_N.htm

Attorney Samuel Rogatinsky cares about survivors of sexual Abuse. In addition to clergy abuse cases, Sam will expose sexual abusers from every type of organization or institution. Recently, Mr. Rogatinsky filed suit against a mental health facility that was abusing a patient. He wll review the circumstances of each particular case and guide survivors through the maze that they must navigate in order to get justice. In addition to clergy, priest and rabbi abuse, the Rogatinsky Firm will handle sexual abuse cases against churches, schools, medical professionals such as psychologists, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. Sexual abuse is not tolerated by the Rogatinsky Firm and they will exhaust all resources before giving up on any case. You can reach Sam on the toll free number found on this site or call him at (954)995-3805 after hours.

Contact Mr. Rogatinsky if you have any type of sex abuse or child sex abuse case. For your convenience, the statute of limitations for Ohio are listed here:

Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:

  • There is a 10 year Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse cases with a delayed tolling Twelve Year Statute of Limitations For All Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims : Any cause of action brought by a victim of childhood sexual abuse claims must be brought within 12 years of the date of accrual. Accrual begins on the 18th birthday of the victim. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.111(C) (2009).
  • Discovery Rule : In any action on or after the effective date of the statute (8/3/06) where the defendant has fraudulently concealed facts of the abuse claim, the statute of limitations will begin at the “time when the plaintiff discovers or in the exercise of due diligence should have discovered those facts.” Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.111(C) (2009).
  • Retroactivity To Effective Date of 8/3/06 : The new statute of limitations applies to all civil actions for claims resulting from childhood sexual abuse that occurred prior to the effective date of the act, and where a civil action for assault and battery has never been filed and the previous statute of limitations had not expired before the effective date of the statute. Act effective Aug. 3, 2006, c. 97, sec. 3, § 2305.111, 2907.01, 2006 Ohio Legis. Serv. Ann. (West).

Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:

  • There is a varying Statute of Limitations based on the sexual abuse itself. Twenty-Year Statute of Limitations for Criminal Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse : Criminal prosecutions of child sexual abusers must be commenced within 20 years of the occurrence. The statute of limitations will be tolled until the victim turns 18 or when responsible adult (not including family members) who has a legal duty to report abuse is aware of such abuse. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2901.13(I)(1), 2151.421 (2009); State v. Elsass, 105 Ohio App.3d 277, 663 N.E.2d 1019 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995); State v. Turner, 91 Ohio App.3d 153, 631 N.E.2d 1117 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993).

If someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, contact our law firm at (954) 995.3805 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at samr@clergyabuse.org