If You want To Know What's Going On In Greenwich You Have To Read The Out Of Town Newspapers
First The Boston Globe Reported At 8:11 AM Yesterday
Former Brookline minister faces child porn charges
A former minister at the First Spiritual Temple in Brookline was indicted Tuesday in federal court on child pornography charges, the office of US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said.
Simeon P. Stefanidakis, 59, of Old Greenwich, Conn., was charged with four counts of transporting child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Authorities allege Stefanidakis transported the material in Massachusetts in October 2008 and possessed it in March 2009. It was not clear if he was still working at the temple at the time.
He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each transportation count and 10 years on the possession count if convicted.
AT 9:00 AM NBC CONNETICUT HAD THE STORY ON THE WEB AND ON THE AIR:
A Greenwich church has put its minister on leave after his arrest on child porn charges.
Simeon Stefanidakis, 59, of Old Greenwich, was charged Tuesday with four counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of child pornography possession, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston.
Stefanidakis is accused of transporting the kiddie porn in October, 2008 while he was living in Brookline, Mass. He served as minister, teacher, counselor and "medium" at the First Spiritual Temple in Brookline, federal prosecutors said. He's accused of possessing the porn in March, 2009, the same month he was installed as minister at Albertson Memorial Church in Greenwich.
The church's Board of Directors suspended him with pay Tuesday night.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news received today regarding the allegations against our Pastor, Rev. Simeon Stefanidakis," a statement from the Board said.
Stefanidakis faces up to 90 years in prison if convicted of all charges, and a $250,000 fine.
The Greenwich Post Reported At 1:52 PM Yesterday
The pastor of an Old Greenwich church is scheduled to be sent to Massachusetts to face federal child pornography charges.
Simeon Stefanidakis, 59, who is a reverend at the Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism, was charged this week in Boston, Mass. with four counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The counts are federal and if convicted, Mr. Stefanidakis faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the four transportation charges and up to 10 years on the possession charge along with a $250,000 fine. If ever released from jail following a conviction he would be under supervised release for the rest of his life.
According to the indictment, Mr. Stefanidakis on Oct. 9, 2008 knowingly transported and shipped four computer files that had “visual depictions” of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally its charged that on March 12, 2009 he was in possession of computer files that again showed minors engaging in sexual conduct.
As part of the indictment, Mr. Stefanidakis will be required to turn over to authorities his computers, including a palm device, and his hard drives.
No other information has been released.
Mr. Stefanidakis has been suspended with pay from the church and is awaiting being sent to Massachusetts to face the charges. According to Christina DiIorio-Sterling, a spokeswoman for the United States’ Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, no date has been set for Mr. Stefanidakis’ return and as of Thursday he was in the custody of federal marshals. Once her office is notified that he is being moved, a court date will be sent but that is entirely on the schedule of the marshals and it is their policy not to comment on where people are being held and when they are to be transported.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER:
Eight Hours Later
Greenwich Time Reporter Frank MacEachern Reports....
After a brief appearance in a U.S. District Court in Connecticut Tuesday, a minister at an Old Greenwich Church remains in custody in the state until his scheduled appearance in a Boston court to face child pornography charges, said a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Boston.
A date to bring Simon P. Stefanidakis, 59, to Boston hadn't been set by Thursday afternoon, spokeswoman Christina Dilorio- Sterling said.
Stefanidakis is charged with four counts of transporting child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Stefanidakis has been minister at the Albertson Memorial Church Memorial Church Of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave., since March 2009.
The allegations cover the time he was a minister at the First Spiritual Temple in Brookline, Mass.
None of the allegations cover the time he has been minister in
Old Greenwich.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each count of transporting child pornography and up to 10 years on possessing child pornography.
Convictions also would bring a fine of up to $250,000.
He has been suspended with pay by the church.
Later Greenwich Blogger Chris Fountain Commented:
I like clerics, but this is getting embarassing
The Greenwich Newspapers Failed To Put Two And Two Together And Report That ....
Simeon Stefanidaki is accused of possession the porn in March of 2009 which is the same month he was made minister at Albertson Memorial Church in Greenwich.
If Greenwich Reporters Did A Few internet Searches They Would Have Been Able To Report .....
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Suffolk County (New York) Police Department. Significant assistance was provided by the Brookline Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit and Trial Attorney Bonnie Kane of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Often It Is Greenwich Bloggers That Tell Town Residents The Complete Story
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1 comment:
Too much to say, here. I can't get past the Greek name. I have one also, am Greek Orthodox and feel strongly about this. Where does this guy get his Spiritualism from? God has NOTHING to do with this!
Moreover, I am jumping on the bandwagon and accusing the newspaper reporters of a lack of thought, ingenuity, initiative, motivation, proper understanding of their job. . . . . .up to the national and world level.
Let's get journalistic minds who care about the job, the people, and not getting off work early or even their salaries.
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