The Observation Deck

The State of Ohio has just charges Phillip DiStasio with 41 more counts relating to child abuse. This brings his total up to 74 counts.

DiStasio, known as "Brother Petty" or "Pateticus" came to Lakewood Observer reporter Dan Slife's attention last summer. Dan's interviews brought DiStasio to the attention of Observers and Observer advisors.

Further investigation and conversation made us so uncomfortable that we insisted that our publisher, Jim O'Bryan, contact Lakewood Law Director, Brian Corrigan. Corrigan contacted Lakewood Detective Leslie Wilkins, who got the investigation rolling.

This DiStasio allegedly preyed on children, some of whom were unable to tell their parents what had happened to them.

DiStasio has been jailed since August awaiting his February trial.

It is my opinion that he couldn't be in a better place.

The more I learn about this case, the more grateful I am to everyone involved who felt there was something very wrong going on.

And by the way, this isn't the first terrible case of child abuse that has been investigated by Detective Wilkins or reported to the police by someone who thought something seemed wrong.

As a long-time journalist, I just wanted to commend the Lakewood Observer for helping to bring to light what Phillip Distasio was doing. After having gone to a talk last night by a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist with the New York Times last night, I was struck by how he found that local newspapers were doing nothing to cover the illegal activities of the company he eventually outed. And it occurred to me that was exactly the kind of challenge citizen journalists could rise up to. I posted about this last night on my own blog - I, Reporter at http://www.ireporter.org/2006/01/could_citizen_j.html -- then saw the story in the Free Times this morning. Proof is in the pudding! Great work.

I applaud the L.O. for doing such a service. As some L.O. folks are aware, there is a history between DiStasio and myself - none of which has been pleasant (and related toward endeavors to have law enforcement prevail).

I read the articles from a perspective that conjures relief and sorrow - in that he was reported long prior to the acts of which he has been accused and for which he faces trial.

It has been difficult for me, and for colleagues, to read the articles; it just brings back a plethora of so many things.

Thank goodness, is my message, the L.O. did not relent .

I am hopeful that updates on the case will be shared as time progresses. I am not in the Lakewood area, and, because I do have an interest in the outcome: I do visit the DA's site and criminal case search (to follow the docket).

What I do hope is that DiStasio avails himself to advice by (co-)counsel as he represents himself/Pro Se. My wish for him is that he will find himself incarcerated for no less than the possible 300 years (I think I had read he can face) - after representing himself as he so chose. What is that adage? something about having a fool for a client?

Anne Cox wrote:I applaud the L.O. for doing such a service. As some L.O. folks are aware, there is a history between DiStasio and myself - none of which has been pleasant (and related toward endeavors to have law enforcement prevail)...

Anne

And we applaud your work and your perseverance.

For those that do not know. Anne tried to turn in Petty in the early 90s and got no where. She had be tracking Phil from California through Kentucky to Ohio. She lost his trail when he moved from Columbus to the Cleveland area.

After he was arrested, she called and we talked, and shared what we know, and theorized on others things we feared. Had the LO not stumbled on him, maybe your efforts would have finally got him arrested.

The very sad fact is. We both know as do the police, this is the tip of the iceberg. Phil and friends have ruined thousands of lives. One law enforcement official thought if everyone came forward if everyone step in to tell their story, he might be the most prolific pedophile of all time.

Odd how the only rule we have(real names) is what brought him down.

Anne, thanks for signing on, thanks for the kind words.


peace

Just a minor correction, Jim: DiStasio was reported repeatedly in year 2000. A number of fine people monitored him - and he did not seem appreciate it .


Whoo-hoo! I just noticed that DiStasio's motion to disqualify counsel was "denied." Too, the State (prosecution) and Defendant (DiStasio - wannabe friar) stipulated that: DiStasio was "sane" at the time of the "alleged" act/s; he's "competent" to stand trial.

It's so nice that the County has the info. accessible online - to be able to stay more current on the proceedings

I noticed, by following the Cuyahoga County criminal case docket, that P. DiStasio - wannabe friar/accused abuser - was slated to learn the commencement date of his trial: "....NEW TRIAL DATE TO BE GIVEN ON 02-06-06...."

Eeeek the docket has not been updated in days.

If someone happens to notice the trial date posted - before I may do so: Please share.

Thank you .

I assume there will be an update soon. As you are aware, Distasio has waived his right to a speedy trial, was denied his petition to fire his lawyer and represent himself and has been evaluated by a court appointed psychiatrist and pronounced sane enough to have known what he was doing during the time of his alleged crimes and also sane enough to participate at his trial.

The case is listed in the current trial section of the county prosecutor's web site, but it was guessed that a trial date might have been set this morning. It was not listed on either the prosecutor's site or the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas site. There was no mention of any trial date on the local news in the early evening broadcasts.

I'd guess there may be an update tomorrow - they may be a day behind in the "paperwork."

What's the misnomer is that the county clerk's site clearly states that it updates every 30 mins. It's self-evident that that is not true. And, that is fine, only, why state such if not a reality? I mean, cut itself some slack and maybe say: "We get to it when we can and do updates" .

I think the county sites do a phenomenal amt. to help people - who want to - stay aware and informed.

It's just... every 30 mins. as indicated updates does lead some to believe that the updates will happen within that time frame, not several days later.

It's kinda ... well, okay: There's the info, but keep folks dangling. After a while, the site loses its own credibility for not doing as it says it does.

I mean, I'm not the only one out-of-state wanting to know. There are others, too.

If we had narrow-minded interest, we wouldn't care.

I wouldn't mention this, only I've seen DiStasio "slip" under the radar previously. It was not for a lack of caring or trying to find info.

Too, perhaps someone may know: Do the "alleged" child victims whom are autistic receive victim-witness services the same as do NTs (neuro. typical) victims? I don't know but my hope is: there is not differential service available to all whom allege that DiStasio was the "alleged" predator, or that his reported journals detailed.

I've been told, it is not believable he victimized the reported number of autistic children due to aggregate stats. involving autistic children and reported cases. To that, I say, hooey. He allegedly selected those he likely saw as most vulnerable, and words I stand by given his own pennings I have seen for myself.

My concern, right now, is for the child victims... oops, I mean, alleged child victims.


I've worked a lot of cases, since circa 1997, and this one... well it's just plainly one of the most difficult to digest, considering I know DiStasio was reported to FBI and other enforcement agencies. Heck: I made those calls. I just lose my stomach reading about what he is "accused" of having done. And, my heart goes out to the parents and the patrons of businesses where he gravitated. His acts are not an indictment toward those establishments or toward anything that he guised he was a staunch follower. It is about him, and solely about him and the acts he is accused of having committed.

I think, parents and business should also be thanking the L.O. for bringing this individual to the point or the crossroad where his life now has found itself positioned. It is not a reflection on anyone but him, and those whom coddled him (his peers).

I hope folks can see it for what it really is: A man whom seems to have reportedly exploited groups, businesses, etc. It was all about him, and for him - allegedly.

Anne-

It looks as though 10/31/2006 is the start of the trial.

The County site is updated every 30 minutes, but this is not necessarily true of the prosecutor's site. The petition to set the trial date was submitted 2/01/06 (although I think it was submitted 1/30 and went into the record on 2/1) and I would guess that this new trial date would have been approved at the earlier proceeding.

Interesting date to bring the Bogeyman to trial.

Boo! I mean, the trial date does seem rather apropos.

I wonder if he will file a request to receive a blue candle to light for the IBLD (International BoyLove Day) he'll miss during Summer solstice - since it's evident no one is posting bond. Perhaps instead of Boo! (for him), it's going to be boo-hoo .


((( Thank You, DL ))))

Because the defendent has already promoted the idea of him representing himself I would suppose his counsel considers themselves to have their hands' full.

It seems to me to be an unwinnable case and I wonder if the long ramp up to the trial is because the case represents for the prosecutor a once-in-a-lifetime national profile case.

Would, at this time, Petty's alleged criminal activities outside of Ohio come into play in anyway? There would be no reason for the prosecution not to develop as full a dossier as legally possible.

How interested are the Feds now?

Where does Petty and Nolans web go and what else is entangled in it?

Stephen Calhoun wrote:Where does Petty and Nolans web go and what else is entangled in it?

Stephen

We both know where it seemed to go that night we talked with him. Plus we have found many more things out. We both know of at least one source for more names that refuses to come forward for fear it could hurt their business.

We also know that in every job he had here he was moved around then finally let go. This would be in three jobs including one with the county. We know he also worked in Columbus. Before that Anne could pick up the story and give us the background.

The one thing that bothers me most is that I feared the worst about how he worked and Anne confirmed that one of his close friends was put away for this in St. Louis or Kansas City if I remember correctly. Anne again maybe you can help out on this.

We also know that after being arrested someone(s) threatened members of the Observer and recently a member of the Free Times. Although these could have also been "pagans" that were upset over him being linked to their religion.

Anne what other cases have you worked?

What else do you know of PD?


Jim

A pagan threatened someone over Petty being linked to the Pagans?

Ha ha!

Am I correct in presuming, then, that there are fundamentalist Pagans who don't wish to see their purist religion sullied by any shadowy, criminal undercurrent?

Ha! Twas ever thus!

Stephen Calhoun wrote:A pagan threatened someone over Petty being linked to the Pagans?

Ha ha!

Am I correct in presuming, then, that there are fundamentalist Pagans who don't wish to see their purist religion sullied by any shadowy, criminal undercurrent?

Ha! Twas ever thus!

Actually it was weirder than that. What one real Pagan I know called "bunny pagans" were the ones at the heart of the "trouble" as I know it. To me it was nothing though other friends took it much worse, and my wife was upset. The only two fundqamentlists pagans I talked to were upset at the link to petty, but even more upset about the "bunny pagans" turning their 6,000 old religion the way of Christanity. ie, change it to fit their needs instead of what has been handed down for ever.

It is all very odd.


.

Because I have no clue about what a Bunny Pagan is, I googled it and the first link provided a test.

THE FLUFFY BUNNY PAGAN TEST
http://quizilla.com/users/thunderk1ss/q ... n%20Test!/

http://www.fluffybunnypagan.com/

***

Found this.

The anti-fluffy movement among Pagans
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/dvera/paga ... fluff.html
by Diane Vera

Within Pagandom, there has arisen a movement against the "fluff-bunnies" who are seen as currently dominant in the Pagan scene.

As far as I can tell, "fluff-bunnies" are those who (1) present what other Pagans regard as an overly sweetness-and-light image of Wicca and/or Paganism; (2) still believe that Wicca is an intact "Old Religion," descended from prehistoric times via Margarent Murray's hypothetical underground "witch cult," though the more educated Wiccans have come to realize that Murray's "witch cult" probably never existed; (3) cling to ideological security blankets; and (4) have a general tendency toward intellectual laziness.

The anti-fluffy movement attracts a variety of people. Some are Pagan Reconstructionists who are dissatisfied with the predominance of Wiccans and Wiccaneque Pagans in the Pagan scene. (Pagan Reconstructionists are those who seek to reconstruct an actual ancient religion based on known history, in contrast to Wicca's synthesis of ideas from many religions both ancient and modern.) On the other hand, the anti-fluffy movement also attracts Wiccans who feel that many in the Pagan scene have a watered-down understanding of what "Wicca" is (as distinct from the broader categories "Wiccanesque Paganism" and "Pagan witchcraft").

And it also attracts some Pagans who are dissatisfied with the Pagan scene for various other reasons, such as disgreement with one or more of the political views espoused by many leading Pagans (liberal, left-wing, feminist, environmentalist), or a dislike of the anti-Christian attitudes of some Pagans, or a discomfort with the gothy or otherwise offbeat clothing worn by some Pagan spokespeople.

Some -- though not all -- people in the anti-fluffy movement have a very friendly attitude toward Satanists, and are critical of the tendency of many "fluff-bunnies" (and others in the Pagan scene) to scapegoat Satanists. Some anti-fluffies have echoed my own critique of common "We're not Satanists!" disclaimers.

Others are not so friendly. Some Pagan Reconstructionists, for example, are even more hostile toward Satanists than many Wiccans and Wiccanesque Pagans are.

***

What'd I say? 'Twas ever thus'?