Priest Sentenced in Sex Case

Koveos to Serve Six Months

The Rev. Emmanuel Koveos, the suspended pastor of the only active Greek Orthodox parish in Vermont, will go to jail for six months for lewd and lascivious conduct with a girl in his church.

In an emotional statement during his court sentencing yesterday, the victim’s mother lashed out at the 62-year-old priest of the Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Burlington.

“You are no priest; you are no man. You’re nothing but a vindictive coward,” she said.

She praised her daughter–12 at the time of the incident–for standing strong despite efforts by Koveos and others to discredit her.

“Slander and innuendoes about my daughter and our entire family were used in a desperate attempt by Mr. Koveos and his counsel in hopes of creating a false illusion of his innocence,” she said.

Koveos continued to maintain that he never fondled the girl during Greek lessons at the church. In court, the priest asked the judge for mercy: “I ask you to please end this nightmare of mine.”

Koveos, his wife and son John read statements.

Defense lawyer Karen Shingler asked that Koveos be placed on probation and be allowed to return to his home on the island of Rhodes in Greece.

Judge James Crucitti, however, followed the recommendation of Probation Officer Kevin Robtoy and Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Robert Simpson Jr.

Simpson said Koveos had violated the position of respect and trust given to religious leaders.

“He demanded that he be given that respect,” Simpson said. “Then he didn’t tell the truth.”

Crucitti said he was sorry Koveos was in “complete denial,” adding that he agreed with the 12 jurors who convicted him. “I have no doubt about your guilt,” he said.

Crucitti imposed a six-month to five-year prison sentence but suspended all but six months, a sentence the judge termed lenient.

Koveos will surrender at 1 p.m. June 8 at the prison in South Burlington. He must register as a convicted sex offender and pay for medical and counseling costs incurred by the victim that are not covered by insurance.

When freed from prison, the judge said, Koveos’ probation officer will have to approve where Koveos will be employed and where he will live.

As part of the sentencing hearing, several dozen letters were filed–many from out of state–in support of Koveos. Among those writing were retired Judge and now State Sen. George Costes of St. Albans, a member of the parish.

Also supporting Koveos was the former head chaplain at Fletcher Allen Health Care, the Rev. C. Leland Udell, who hired Koveos to do pastoral care for hospital patients.

As he left the Edward J. Costello Courthouse on Thursday, Koveos said, “I am disappointed; I am disappointed.”

The third-generation priest had told the court Thursday that he had never had any problems during his many years of service as a religious leader in Lowell and Quincy, Mass.; Concord, N.H.; Texas; Pennsylvania; and Vermont. Koveos moved to Vermont in January 1993 with his wife, Joanna, and family.

During the trial in February, the prosecution tried to introduce–but was blocked from doing so–about an earlier incident in which Koveos allegedly fondled a woman. She said in court papers that Koveos made her touch him improperly and that he kissed her on the lips in 1988 at Holy Trinity Church in Concord, N.H.