Penance due

It is disappointing that suspended Greek Orthodox priest the Rev. Emmanuel Koveos did not accept his conviction for lewd and lascivious behavior with a 12-year-old girl and instead attempted to overturn it on technicalities.

Last week, Vermont’s Supreme Court wisely upheld the conviction and affirmed the truth – that if anyone is guilty of improper behavior, it is Koveos, not the judge, jury or court that presided over his trial.

The justices upheld fairness in their decision and gave Koveos a reminder that it is time to trade denial for remorse. Koveos paid only part of his debt to society when he served four months in prison.

Koveos still owes his former congregation and the entire Greek Orthodox Church an apology for exploiting the trust of followers who put the religious leader up on a moral pedestal. The crime is all the worse because Koveos fondled a child in his congregation, at the church offices, while he was giving Greek lessons. The church and the victim have a right to feel deeply betrayed.

As to the details of the priest’s legal case, the justices acted fairly in denying his appeal. Koveos’ lawyers argued that a jury member’s residence outside of Chittenden County at the time of the Burlington trial disqualified her from serving under Vermont law, and that this jeopardized his right to a fair trial.

The justices wisely rejected that argument. First, the resident’s change of address from Chittenden to Franklin County was filed with the court before the jury was impaneled, and Koveos waived his right to object when he neglected to raise the issue at that time.

The justices also ruled that the juror’s residence outside of Chittenden County did not represent the miscarriage of justice or violation of constitutional rights sufficient to merit throwing out the verdict. Three other technicalities were dismissed on similar grounds. This was a good decision that showed a proper sense of proportion.

Both justice and the taxpayers lose when judges throw out essentially fair verdicts on the weight of minor technicalities that surface only after trial as a way for defendants to dodge punishment.

Koveos received a fair trial.

Now, he must retire his legal battle and stop denying his guilt. Only then will real healing begin.