Politician sought leniency for sex offender (NJ)
Politician sought leniency for sex offender Records: Perth Amboy mayor wrote letter in case concerning Morris girl, 15 BY SUZANNE C. RUSSELL GANNETT NEW JERSEY PERTH AMBOY -- Assemblyman Joseph Vas, who prides himself in the legislation he has introduced to toughen laws against sex offenders, wrote a letter two years ago seeking leniency for man who had admitted having sex with a teenager. Vas, who is running for the vacant 13th Congressional District seat in the June Democratic primary, has introduced multiple bills increasing penalties and restrictions for sex offenders and providing more protection for sex crime victims. But two years ago Vas asked for leniency for the son of a friend who admitted having sex with a 15-year-old Morris County girl and possessing child pornography. In the letter he sent to the judge, Vas said he had known the man for more than 40 years. The mother of that man, who was recently released from state prison and is living in Perth Amboy, said she feels bad for getting Vas involved by asking him to write the letter and she hopes it won't have any impact on his bid for Congress. Vas, Perth Amboy's mayor for the past 15 years, wrote the letter in March 2004 on New Jersey General Assembly letterhead, seeking leniency for a friend Joe Trinidad who had pleaded guilty to second degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. References to the letter were posted this week on Politicsnj.com and e-mailed to subscribers of NJLatinoIssues, a listserv. According to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Trinidad pleaded guilty to the second degree sexual assault charge for the statutory rape of the girl who was 15 years old when she and Trinidad met. He also pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, a fourth degree crime, for possession of child pornography. Trinidad was sentenced May 14, 2004 to five years in state prison for the sexual assault and served about a third of his sentence, which is standard, officials said. The 18-month sentence for the endangering charge ran concurrent with the five-year sentence. The sentence also included a Megan's Law examination, parole for life, and no contact with the victim or her family. He is a convicted sex offender and was placed on Megan's Law by the judge, according to Meg Rodriguez, the Morris County assistant prosecutor who handled the case. Vas said he asked the court to give Trinidad consideration, especially since a psychological report determined he would not commit the crime again. Vas said he was only aware that Trinidad had pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, not the sexual assault charge. "I stand by the psychologist's report that he's no risk to repeat the crime. Therefore my letter reaffirms the nature of his character that he was honorably discharged from the Navy. What was presented to me is he pleaded guilty to one charge," Vas said. In Morristown court Vas wrote to Superior Court Judge John Harper, sitting in Morristown, that he has known Trinidad for 40 years and considers his family close friends. Trinidad, 43, is the son of Lydia Trinidad, the long time executive director of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, a social service agency in Perth Amboy. "Mr. Trinidad faces the loss of his profession, his personal and professional reputation has been tarnished and his family has been deeply affected by all that has happened. I would, therefore, respectfully urge the court to consider leniency in sentencing Mr. Trinidad. Between the economic devastation that he has gone through, the humiliation that he has experienced and the devastation to his reputation, I believe that Mr. Trinidad has already paid a stiff price," Vas wrote. Julie Roginsky, a spokesman for Assemblyman Albio Sires, D-Hudson, Vas's opponent in the 13th Congressional District primary, said she found it "shocking" someone would say a sex offender has paid enough and should get leniency. "It says something about his (Vas) values and priorities,"said Roginsky, adding she can't understand how anyone who molested a young girl has ever paid enough for one of the most heinous crimes. Vas maintains he's been tough on sex offenders. "I have more bills (than other legislators) making it tougher on sex offenders," said Vas, who represents the 19th Legislative District, adding four or five bills are scheduled to be signed into law this year. "There is no inconsistency with my position." He has introduced legislation creating mandatory minimum terms of 10 years for defendants convicted of the aggravated sexual assault of children under age 13. Vas also wants to prohibit sex offenders from selling from ice cream trucks or living near schools, child-care center or playgrounds as well as require electronic monitoring for certain sex offenders. State Department of Corrections records show Trinidad was released Jan. 17 from the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Wrightstown, Burlington County. He is living in Perth Amboy, according to his mother, who said her son has a part-time job and is seeking full time employment. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/COMMUNITIES/603300320/1203/NEWS01