Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark
Summary of Assignments
- 1976-1982: St. Aloysius; Jersey City, NJ
- 9/15/1982: Arrested and charged with sexual contact with a male juvenile; Hudson County, NJ
- 1983: Pleaded guilty, sentenced to 5 years probation
- 1983: Foundation House; Albuquerque, NM
- While in New Mexico, Sita’s name was changed to Rev. Gerald Howard
- 1983-1984: SS. Peter and Paul; Boonville, MO
- 1984: Charter Hospital – Counselor; Columbia, MO
Arrested 1982; pled guilty 1983 to abuse of a minor and providing him with drugs. Got five years probation and treatment at Paracletes in NM. Legally changed name to Gerald Howard. Incardinated into Jefferson City MO diocese; assigned to parish with school. Reportedly had no clerical assignments since removal from active ministry in 1984. Accused 2007 of abusing another boy. Claim settled 2009 for $600K and agreement to laicize. Other victims in NJ and MO. Arrested 4/10 in NJ and later in MO. Jailed until MO criminal trial. Settlement of five claims in 2013 for $650K. Pled guilty 6/17/14 to two counts of forcible sodomy and one count of attempted forcible sodomy against three teen boys. Other counts dropped. To serve three concurrent twelve-year sentences and register as sex offender when released. Laicized 9/24/12, announced 6/18/14. On Jefferson City diocese’s list 11/8/18. On Newark list 2/13/19.
Sources:
Laicization Decree 09.24.12; Cover letter to Archbishop Myers 09.25.12; Links to Articles Prior to 10.31.12; The Missourian 10.31.12; The Missourian 10.31.12; Columbia Daily Tribune 11.01.12; ABC 17 11.15.12; Fulton Sun 11.15.12; Connect MidMissouri 11.26.12; SNAP Statement 12.03.12; SNAP Statement 02.04.13; Fulton Sun 02.05.13; SNAP Statement 05.09.13; Worthy Adversary 05.09.13; Digital Journal 05.10.13; Jersey Journal 05.10.13; Star Ledger 05.10.13; Columbia Daily Tribune 05.11.13; Connect Mid-Missouri 11.25.13; SNAP Statement 11.25.13; Jersey Journal 11.26.13; SNAP Statement 11.26.13; Jersey Journal 12.02.13; NorthJersey 12.06.13; MO SNAP Statement 06.13.14; ABC 17 06.17.14; Columbia Daily Tribune 06.17.14; ConnectMidMissouri 06.17.14; Missourian 06.17.14; SNAP Statement 06.17.14; Boonville Daily News 06.18.14; MO-SNAP Statement 06.18.14; Star Ledger 06.18.14; SNAP Media Statement 06.19.14; SNAP Statement 06.20.14; MissouriNet 06.23.14; Diocese of Jefferson City List 11.08.18; Archdiocese of Newark List 02.13.19; Archdiocese of Newark Tobin Letter 02.13.19; BA.org Assignment Record; http://bishop-accountability.org/