Sex abuse case leads to $2 million suit Family of girl who accused former GOP official of groping her says Catholic school kept her out
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published: Friday, February 8, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- The teenage girl who accused a former county politician of sex abuse says Bishop Gibbons High School kept her from attending last fall because of the case, according to a lawsuit.
John A. Aretakis, an attorney who has repeatedly filed lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany on behalf of alleged victims of priest sex abuse, filed the complaint in state Supreme Court in Schenectady County in November. The lawsuit, which seeks $2 million, names the high school, the Catholic diocese and former Schenectady County Republican Chairman Armando Tebano. The girl accused Tebano of fondling her in 2005 while they watched a movie at Tebano's home. She was 14 at the time. Tebano faced misdemeanor third-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and child endangerment charges. He eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment. He was fined $250, plus court-related costs, and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. In the suit, the girl's mother says her daughter began to have behavioral and emotional problems at the Catholic high school because of the case. Her daughter left school for home tutoring for some months, but was behind academically when she returned, the suit says. Aretakis said the dismissal was done the day before the 2007-08 school year began. The girl's mother said in the lawsuit that she didn't learn of the school's decision until her daughter went to retrieve books from the school on Sept. 6. The mother said she called the school and was told by the principal that the school had reviewed the situation and decided not to enroll her daughter. The girl then enrolled in the Schenectady city school system. "The timing of it being done before school is especially mean," said Aretakis. "While we have vehemently denied all the wrongful allegations in this matter, we look forward to a trial where the truth will come to light," said Tebano's lawyer, Joshua Farrell. Diocese spokesman Ken Goldfarb said, "we'll let the courts handle the matter."
SCHENECTADY Family files suit, says school won’t let girl come back Student accused politician of abuse BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
The family of a teenage girl is suing the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese, Bishop Gibbons High School and a former Republican Party chairman for $2 million, according to civil papers filed in state Supreme Court in Schenectady County. The mother of the girl accuses the diocese and school of barring her daughter from attending 11th grade last September because she brought sexual abuse charges against Armando Tebano. At the time, Tebano was chairman of the city and county Republican committees and the Republican commissioner of elections for Schenectady County. Tebano admitted in Schenectady City Court in February 2007 to a violation harassment charge, heading off a high-profile trial on charges he inappropriately touched the then-14-year-old girl. He admitted only to having “physical contact” with the girl before City Court Judge Guido Loyola. John A. Aretakis, the family’s attorney, alleges in court papers that the diocese and school were negligent in preventing the girl from attending Bishop Gibbons and that they retaliated and punished her for going to law enforcement authorities with charges against Tebano. The lawsuit further alleges that Tebano sexually abused the girl, stalked her and sexually exploited her. Combined, the actions of the diocese, school and Tebano caused the girl emotional and physical distress, requiring her to get medical and psychological treatment, therapy and counseling, court papers said. Aretakis said the school should have offered her therapy, as “she was a sexual abuse victim, but the school was upset because the family drew attention to the case.” Aretakis said the girl learned she was not welcome back at school the night before school started. “The principal calls the mom back and says she was involved in the case and they don’t want her back. The school admits that,” he said. “It is a disruption to a teenager and could cause serious effects. It’s just wrong to treat children like that, it is mean and you can’t treat children like that,” Aretakis said. In return for his guilty plea, Tebano was sentenced to perform 250 hours of community service, was ordered to give a DNA sample — unusual for a violation plea — and to undergo a psychological evaluation. Aretakis charged that Tebano received preferential treatment in court because he is married to Schenectady County Court Judge Karen Drago. Albany Diocese spokesman Ken Goldfarb said, “We are responding to this matter in the courts and will let the courts sort it out. We are confident this will work out the way it is supposed to.” Tebano attorney Joshua Farrell said, “We vehemently deny all the wrongful allegations in this matter and we look forward to a trial where the truth will come to light.” No trial date has been set in this case. Aretakis said Tebano wants to bring the case to trial and that the diocese is trying to sever itself from the lawsuit.
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