Bilski convicted on 143 counts of molestation
Monmouth handyman convicted of terrible crimes, 143 counts. Is this justice enough? What should his punishment be in the court of public opinion?
That was the unanimous verdict of the jury in the trial of an Ocean Township handyman who sexually assaulted the young daughter of one of his customers from the time she was 2 years old until she was about 6.
Clement “Clem'' Bilski Jr., 45, sat still, without looking at the jury, as the forewoman answered “guilty'' to each charge read aloud by the court clerk.
The jury of nine women and three men found Bilski guilty of 52 counts of aggravated sexual assault, 15 counts of sexual assault, 74 counts of manufacturing child pornography, and lone counts of promoting child pornography and endangering the welfare of a child.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin vowed to seek the maximum sentences possible, and for those to be served consecutively, when Bilski is sentenced May 30.
Bilski could get more than 1,936 years in prison and $23.775 million in fines if maximum penalties are imposed.
In December, Bilski turned down a plea agreement with prosecutors that called for him to plead guilty to all counts in exchange for a recommended 130-year sentence, of which he would have been required to serve 60.35 years before being eligible for parole.
Bilski still faces an additional 278 counts of aggravated sexual assault and other charges related to his alleged assaults on nine other victims from Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Valentin said those charges are still pending, but could not comment any further, citing the ongoing cases.
The prosecutor praised the victim and her family, who haven't been publicly identified, for their strength and courage
in confronting the heinous crimes.
“I hope the victim's family can take some measure of solace in knowing that their cooperation and participation has ensured that Clement Bilski Jr. will never harm another child,'' Valentin said.
Jurors' deliberations
Jurors returned to their deliberations about 8:50 a.m. Wednesday inside the jury room of state Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet's courtroom.
A knock on the door came from the jury shortly before 10 a.m. A note passed from the jury to Chaiet asked for the review of two additional video clips. Attorneys on both sides were summoned to the courtroom to fulfill the jury's request.
About 10 a.m., the jury emerged from their closed-door deliberations to view the two short videos. Three minutes later they returned to their deliberations.
About 10:40 a.m., the second knock came from the jury's deliberation room. The jury wanted to review one of the video clips they had looked at earlier in the morning.
Prosecutors had played the video clip at full speed earlier in the morning, but only from a point 26 seconds into the 51-second video. Now the jury was asking the video be played in its entirety … once at full speed and a second time in slow motion.
Prosecutors played the video at half speed and then Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Clark paused the video at 38 seconds so he could slow the video to frame-by-frame. From 40 seconds on the video continued at half speed.
The jury then resumed deliberations.
Then at precisely noon, the final knock came. The jury had reached a verdict.
Bilski's attorney, John O. Goins, sat with Bilski's mother outside court when the jury signaled it was ready. The two returned to the courtroom. Bilski's mother took a seat in the last row.
Bilski was led back into the courtroom by an entourage of sheriff's officers. Spectators filed in to hear the verdict.
"Above and beyond'" duty
The jury had displayed little emotion during their time in the courtroom, except when the graphic videos were played in court. Now they took their seats in the jury box.
With 10 sheriff's officers stationed around the courtroom, Bilski looked straight ahead. He did not turn to the jury, as the forewoman was asked by Chaiet to report their verdict.
After the forewoman answered “guilty'' to all 143 charges against Bilski, members of jury were thanked by Chaiet for their service.
“It goes without saying this was a difficult case to sit on,'' Chaiet said. “Ordinarily I sit up here and thank you for your service, but this was above and beyond your duty.''
Chaiet offered jurors the services of a counselor if any experience difficulty dealing with what they've seen.
Before Tuesday, Bilski faced 150 charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, criminal restraint, weapons and other charges related to the promotion and production of child pornography.
Tuesday morning, Chaiet dismissed five criminal restraint charges and two weapons charges.
Bilski's $1 million bail … which he never posted … was revoked, and he will remain held in the Monmouth County Jail until sentencing. Chaiet did indicate that Bilski would undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in the Avenel section of Woodbridge before sentencing.
