The Observation Deck

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DL Meckes just called from the Phil Distasio trial.

Phil has plead guilty to all counts.

Sentencing is October 6.


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Prosecutor Brenden J. Sheehan said, "This is a parent's worst nightmare.

Parents tell their children there are no monsters. There is a monster. His name is Philip DiStasio."

Wearing the traditional orange prisoner's jumpsuit, Philip J. Distasio entered Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula's courtroom with his court-appointed lawyer, Thomas Shaughnessy.

The prosecuter read the list of charges against him and the judge asked for his plea.

DiStasio, looking slight and pale, expressed the desire to avoid having his victims testify and causing their families further pain and Shaughnessy noted that DiStasio would plead guilty, although they plan to argue the viability Constitutionality of the Violent Sexual Predator designation, which removes any possibility of parole during an offender's sentence.

However, since Shaughnessy had not prepared such an arguement and since Sheehan had not prepared a response and since the judge had not had an opportunity to read the arguements which had not yet been prepared, Sutula moved forward with the hearing.

Sutula noted that DiStasio had been found sane for the third time and expressed concern over what he would do and has done to create a circus atmosphere.

DiStasio said, "I'm doing this for the families' concerns." Sutula asserted, "Sir, don't doubletalk me, don't doubletalk your attorney and don't doubletalk the public." She went on to describe him as intelligent, articulate and well versed in the law.

Asked again if he pled guilty, DiStasio, in a soft voice replied, "I don't see that I have any choice in the matter."

Sutula read each charge and asked DiStasio for his plea. When she started reading the rape charges, DiStasio became agitated, saying, "I did not rape him." The bailiff handcuffed the defendant.

Sutula read each of 74 charges against DiStasio and he pled guilty to every one.

One of the charges DiStasio pled guilty to dated back to 2001, but the majority cited occurred in 2005.

The judge asked DiStasio, "Did you plead knowingly, voluntarily and in intelligent fashion?"

DiStasio, appearing to be near tears, interrupted, "Your honor, may I explain?"

The judge stopped ruling. DiStasio asked if he could ask a question and the judge said she would hear it. DiStasio again wanted to try to explain something, but on his laywer's advice, gave up the attempt.

Sutula accepted the pleas and found DiStasio guilty on all counts.

Sutula announced that DiStasio's sentenciing would be October 6th at 8:30 AM.

She requested that all victims statements be submitted by September 20th.

After the trial had ended, the prosector noted that the assertion that DiStasio wanted to spare the victim's families was hollow. Sheehan said that all nine families concerned had agreed to testify and all the victims had agreed to come to court.

Sheehan pointed out that it would be impossible for some of the victims to testify as they had disabilites which prevented them from speaking, which is why Sheehan characterized DiStasio as "the worst pedophile in America."

Kudos to Dan Slife, who turned over a rock, found something slimey underneath it and did the right thing.

One last thing -

Thank you to the Lakewood Law Department, the Rocky River Police & the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.

Without the investigation of the Rocky River PD the prosecutor wouldn't have had as much good evidence to work with.

Last I'd known, it seemed that no more comments about P. DiStasio would be coming from you, Jim, and you were doubtful of the case outcome, even in light of the charges against him .

I will await the outcome of his sentencing, then... release the 10 pounds of stuff the DA's office received. The point? Not to make the perv any more infamous. It is to serve as reminder to so many whom remove data that exposes sexual predators for exactly what and whom they are. They have made mistake after mistake. Purging data from open access is such an error.

Had people left standing info about Phil, parents and others would have been able to learn that he was a pedophile "x" number of years ago - just by a few keystrokes in search engines.

The systematic purging is akin to erasing one's known history. I could wax on, only I am not looking for a debate. I'll just say this: Had folks not wiped out what was known about the freak fake friar prior to his plea - or "woe is me" - maybe he would not have gotten as far as he did .

Why people want to "wipe" out what is known of a suspected perp who has presented probable cause? I dunno. I won't. He's more than a lesson. He won't be released in "x" years and resume where he left off. That's for sure.

Now, if a doc whom did a psych. eval. on him did so advise how he can "off" himself after being sent to prison: Cool! Wouldn't want him doing so before sentencing. Pedos have this way about them and seeking to instill guilt in their victims - "if this happens" well "it's your fault." He pleaded. That's justice. So now is the time for him to contemplate doing a Nolan!

P.S.: The 10 lbs. to which I alluded... It was not data that I removed from the Net. It was removed by others (his perv pals) and pennings from Phil to me. Those had previously been turned over to homicide detectives in KY. He obstructed justice in a murder case and... well, missed opportunities to stop him in his tracks to sexually assaulting children (and some of whom had no "real" voice) .

Anne

DL called me from court and I posted the announcement.

I agree that there is a lot to learn and study from this. the one thing that
bother me most is when you mention to many mothers under the age of 40 that you have alternative education and pagan drumming that they are so willing to turn their children over to "anyone." I know of good parents, and what I always thought of as sane individuals, that were ready to send babies off to "school." Has the educational system hurt these mothers so much?

I also hope that Phil left behind enough material to help the police round-up hundreds of cohorts. Just last week I was once again promised a video of Phil with another "of his team" in a video discussion. The filmmaker had interviewed him over three years ago and knew he had a tape, just couldn't find it. This will give police another lead.

What also bothers me, is that many mothers who had dealings with Phil all had something in common. At some point in the interview process he would leave to the airport to pick people up. Which would seem that Phil was working his old roommate's scam from St. Louis.

Big talk amongst those that were called to testify, this might not be over.

Phil could once again change his plea, appeal, and generally make life hell for families for years to come.



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These families who were conned by DiStasio have been living a nightmare. The damage done will resonate in their lives for a long time, if not forever.

They are so brave to come forward, to file complaints, to be prepared to face him in open court, and to deal the the misplaced blame that somehow they should have known about him...

They are heros who made sure that no other child will be harmed.

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Jim,

I, too, can appreciate (from the inside out or very internally) how a child and, as an effect, parent can be hurt by a school district - just as Charyn cited.

Though not a parent, I was a child that the districts - in which I resided - just "didn't get it." As my colleague and best friend Jan knows, and as I've told DL privately (and respect her for not blasting it all over the place ): I'm on the autistic spectrum. As an adult I was dx'd with Asperger's.

I skippped some grades, was placed in "gifted" programs for other grades, and then, somehow stuck in remedial classes. It was nothing but chaos and confusion for me, soooo, I can sorta understand how my parents might have felt: "What to do?"; "Where to turn now?"; "What next?"

My parents did turn to what some, then, considered alternate education for a couple of years. But, the difference is: the school was accredited or recognized as legit by the district and board of education. That is key, and parents do need to check whether classes, schools, etc., are recognized as legit.

Think this case didn't rub salt? Well, it's been a tough one! I feel for the children DiStasio victimized. I hope he rots. He deserves no less.

Charyn Compeau wrote:Long story short, Jim, yes - the schools can hurt a mother that badly.

Peace,
Charyn

Charyn - Anne

I have no children, I have friends with kids, some have special needs but that as close as I get to this problem. But it would seem that if what you two say is true, either we have failed miserably, and must take drastic measures to correct, or something has gone terribly wrong with the system, the parents, and the kids.

I had the displeasure of speaking with Phil, sometimes for as long as four hours at a shot. when he found I I had called the police and was working with them, he would come to the office to threaten me, talk with me, plead with me, and taunt me. I received emails galore, all were turned over to the police.

Dan Slife, spent hours talking with him, Ken Warren and Stephen Calhoun spent hours talking with him an dissecting the notes, the meanings and the metaphors. AT NO TIME did any of us think the guy was safe, what alone safe with children. As the story goes, and Calhoun will back me up, 15 minutes into our talk with him I turned to Steve and said, "We have a serial pedophile on our hands." At the 1 hour mark, we thought we had a murderer, but the 4th hour, the story was so dark and troubling that in my notes from that night I wrote, "I had just spent the darkest hours of my life in Lakewood." Phil was talking to us to convince us that his school, deserved a spot on the board, and that we should write a story about him and the school. The reason we had this talk was that other boards in the area let him use on of his many faux names, and we were not going to even let him on the Deck, until he proved he was a friar, and his name was Petty.

Oh he had the razzle dazzle that would wow any child ages 1-13. Any parent with any sensibilities should have seen right through it instantly. Been to the house, saw it, made my office look clean! Leave a child in that filth and squalor for drumming and education! I have to think when a child has special needs it means he/she has special needs. I doubt that those needs are to be off loaded to any creep with a story.

To think that ANY mother would release a child into his custody borders on criminal neglect. To think he worked at schools and groups in Cuyahoga County, Columbus, Lexington, St. Louis and California, and was moved around ala Catholic Priest, again borders on complicity. Cyber City Cafe, run by retired teachers I believe, had a list of 20 kids that Phil had brought in to play games. They would later host beer fundraisers for Phil! I am dying for one person to tell me how any of that makes sense, is even remotely legal, or should be tolerated by any parent, what alone city. (I still have two of the flyers, and Rozi's has the reciept for the kegs.)

At no point did any of us see Phil as anything but predator. To back that up all you need to do is talk to his neighbors. Most had children that would have drawn in Phil's eyes. Ages 1-13. None knew anything of Phil's school, teachings, etc. Phil knew to keep it away from the neighbors, far better to feed in Lakewood, Westlake, Cleveland Heights, etc.

The three mothers I know, had no disabled children. The five mothers that decided not to give Phil their children had no child with special needs, but they all thought drumming and alternative education was cool, and the new pathway. I did a little study with parents after that week, and asked about drumming and alternative education, 90% of the time the parent would come back with "sounds interesting."

The sad thing is Gen X, and those on both sides had NO CRITICAL CHOPS. Someone had pulled their most basic of tools from their tool kit. Questions we asked out of the box. "Brother Petty are you a real friar?" answer, "No, but I am going to apply at Universal Life Church to become an ordained minister for $15.00." "Brother Petty where is the school/church incorporated." "It isn't, I do not believe in that, besides I did not have the money, but when I get the school going I will." These two simple questions point to fraud, and the inability to take care of the children financially. Where is the ability for one desperate broke friar to cover the insurance should anything happen?"

And here is the punchline. I blame EVERYONE but the kids. Every parent that turned their kids over to Phil, should go on trial. Everyone that crossed his path, and said nothing, should go on trial. Phil is sick, and twisted, but the crime as Anne will tell you is everyone that turned a blind eye, and let him practice his evil. It is like Michael Jackson on trial, we all know it was the parent that dropped little Bobby of at Neverland for the amusement of a 45 year-old that should have been on trial.

Society has gone to hell in a hand basket. The baby boomers on down have completely gotten it wrong, and the feral nature of them, has only gotten worse with each succeeding generation. Put the medication down, put the scotch down. Right now clarity is needed more than ever.

While I feel your pains, having a special needs child is no reason to try Phil the Butcher's school of torture. It is time we come to grips with how bad we have screwed the human experiment up.

We haven't even touched on the worst of Phil's crimes.

(please send hate mail to the same address it has be coming to since we turned Phil over to the police. If you must tape it to my car please use masking tape, as the clear stuff is a bitch to get off.)


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