Bilski convicted on 143 counts of molestation

[cracklepopper]

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.

[clamchucker]

If he did that to someone in my family, I don't care. He's not making out of that courtroom. Doesn't matter what happens to me after that. No punishment is severe enough.

[plugaholic]

Let him out in the exercise year in prison. They can play volleyball with his head.

[pinhead44]

I can't see anyone like that ever being rehabilitated.

[wish4fish]

Slimeball. Make about 100 small cuts on his body. Take him out to the Mud Hole, chum for bluefish and sharks. Then drag him behind on the boat in the chum slick.

[captnemo]

The worst defect about these people is they are selfish, self-centered characters. You can give them all the punishment you want. If they get out they will never be rehabilitated. If they had an ounce of compassion and concern for others, they would stop at the last minute, or seek some kind of counselling before ruining innocent lives. However, the selfishness prevails above all. No hope. Lock them up, throw away the key.

[voyager35]

Update, this piece of vermin was convicted yesterday. He will never get out of prison. He molested this girl over a period of 5 years, and videotaped it. Prison is too good for him. I hope there is a hell when he dies.




Monmouth handyman gets 4 consecutive 20-year terms in sex abuse of girl

by Rudy Larini/The Star-Ledger Friday May 30, 2008, 11:53 AM


Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger

Defendant Clement Bilski Jr. wipes a tear from his face as reads from a prepared statement during his sentencing today.
A Monmouth County handyman was sentenced to four consecutive 20-year prison terms for the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl who lived in a home he was hired to renovate.
"A sentence of simply forever in this case would be appropriate," Judge Paul F. Chaiet of the Superior Court in Freehold said this morning as he handed down the sentence on Cement "Clem" Bilski.

Under the terms of the sentence, Bilski, 45, will have to serve at least 60 years before he would be eligible for parole.

Bilski was convicted in March of 143 counts of sexual assault against a girl who was between 2 and 6 years old when the offenses occurred. Bilski, who was hired to do major and minor renovations to the girl's home between 1998 and 2003, videotaped his attacks. Evidence introduced at his trial showed he plied the girl with candy.

At the sentencing today, Bilski offered a rambling account of his childhood, telling the judge he became addicted to pornography at age 6 when he was exposed to his brother's Playboy magazine and his father's pornographic playing cards. He told the judge he left Catholic school in the third grade because the nuns humiliated him. He also said he was sexually abused by his neighbors in Asbury Park.

Chaiet was not sympathetic.

"The one thing you haven't understood throughout this whole proceeding," the judge told him, "is you are not the victim."