Internet predator and child rapist John Monetti sentenced

John H. Monetti

Internet predator, child rapist, former school teacher, principal, fireman and riding coach John H. Monetti of New York was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for two counts of traveling across state lines to Blair, Nebraska with intent to engage in a sexual act with a child.

The formerly well respected Long Island man was also was ordered to pay $31,000 to cover fees and for counseling for his underage victim. Monetti will have five years of supervised release after he serves the full 12 years.

This ends, for now, an ugly chapter in the annals of Nebraska child rape law. It would appear that our state prosecutors have wised up to Nebraska's miserable catch and release system of dealing with sexual deviants that harm our kids. To get justice, or at least to get these foul miscreants off our streets, we must rely upon the Federal Department of Justice. One may hope Mr. Monetti will not re-offend when he gets out, but...
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Previous Plains Feeder posts about Mr. John Monetti.

John Monetti pleads guilty to federal charges

The end of a long and unpleasant ordeal for Nebraskans is near. Internet predator, child rapist, former school teacher, principal, fireman and riding coach John H. Monetti finally retracts his original claim that "I haven't done anything wrong" and enters a guilty plea. Sentencing to follow in November. From the Omaha World Herald:

A former New York elementary school principal told a federal judge in Omaha today that he made four 2,600-mile, round-trip flights to have secret sexual encounters with an underage girl from Washington County, Neb.

John Monetti, 38, told U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon that he was guilty of two counts of travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile. Three additional federal charges were dismissed under the plea bargain.

The judge told the former Long Island educator that he should expect to serve 144 months (12 years) in federal prison. 'Do you agree to that sentence?' Bataillon asked.

'Yes, I do,' Monetti responded.

Monetti also told the judge that he understood he had no chance for parole under federal sentencing laws and that his guilty pleas would make it nearly impossible to successfully appeal his sentence.

The judge accepted Monetti's guilty pleas, took the agreement under advisement and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 9.

It doesn't appear that the plea bargain includes his having to admit that he actually did rape the underage girl from Blair, Nebraska that was his victim. It was previously reported that he had confessed to having done so on several occasions.

Twelve years in the federal prisons is better than what might have happened to him in Nebraska's hit or miss state courts. Another consolation is that the poor victim never had to testify in open court. If you think his pending sentence will be too lenient, you can always write to Judge Bataillon. I think it is the best we could hope for, given the unpredictable state of Nebraska's courts.

For more background on Mr. Monetti's path to prison, see previous Plains Feeder coverage here.
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More news coverage of Monetti's plea:Washington County Pilot Tribune & Enterprise; Omaha TV stations KETV , WOWT, and KMTV; Newsday from New York.
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Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Accused molester John Monetti to change plea

"I haven't done anything wrong"

Recently, there appeared in the comments sections a statement that Mr. John Monetti has reached a plea bargain agreement with the federal prosecutors. Today one of my readers called the Federal District Court and discovered that Mr. Monetti has scheduled a Change of Plea appearance early in the morning August 20th. I believe Mr. Monetti will be present in court for this procedure, and may very well receive his sentence at the same time.

I can't confirm, but the tipster who prefers to go unnamed says he has agreed to a sentence of 12 years. That will be a hard 12, with no time off for good behavior or chance of early release on parole. I know lots of you will howl that Mr. Monetti deserves worse, but we are talking about the real legal system here.

We must be grateful for the good job our public servants have done in this case: the good Samaritan that tipped the police; the Sheriff that smelled something amiss and acted on it; the local prosecutor who developed preserved the case, then wisely sought to have it moved to federal court; and the tough federal prosecutor here in our district that took the case. We can thank all these folks that we won't see a repeat of the short shrift such cases sometimes receive in our state courts.

If you are not familiar with the story of Mr. Monetti, former school teacher, principal, and volunteer firefighter now facing federal charges for having repeatedly traveled to Nebraska from Long Island, New York for sex with an underage autistic girl, click here. The Plains Feeder has been following this case closely since it broke, largely because the victim's home is just down the road from the feedlot.

Call the Clerk of the Federal District Court in Omaha for details, should you wish to attend. Their number is 402-661-7350.
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Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Accused child rapist John Monetti's trial date moved

From the Washington County Pilot Tribune & Enterprise: Monetti's trial date moved.

A federal judge has sustained John Monetti's appeal to file a motion to suppress evidence and statements obtained after his May 2006 arrest. The original motion was denied because it was filed past the deadline for pretrial motions.
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Monetti's lawyer, Carlos Monzon, wrote in the appeal that assistant U.S. attorney Michael Norris was consulted before the motion to suppress was filed, and did not object to it being past the deadline.

Mr Monetti's trial date has been changed from today to July 30th. I expect more delays.

It sounds like Mr. Norris dropped the ball by failing to object to the late motion to suppress evidence. Should the key evidence be suppressed, Monetti could cop a walk.
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Hat Tip: Kay in the comments.
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Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.
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Better smelling news: the fragrant milkweed is blooming here at the feedlot.

Accused Child Rapist John Monetti: Suppress Evidence?

John Monetti - Internet Predator

A June 25th trial date has been set for former Long Island, New York elementary school teacher and administrator John Monetti. He is in jail here in Nebraska, charged in federal court with meeting an underage Blair, Nebraska girl on the internets, then traveling repeatedly to Nebraska to meet the girl for sex. You may read the unpleasant details in these previous Plains Feeder posts.

Today, Kay, our reader in Blair, tips us to a new story by Washington County Pilot-Tribune reporter Jim Brazda. Jim notes that Mr. Monetti's lawyer, Carlos Monzon, has moved to suppress most of the evidence against his client. The claim is, as always, that the searches of Monetti's rented car and motel room after he was caught with the girl unreasonably violated the pervert's Constitutional right to privacy. (N.B. The Bill of Rights never mentions privacy, but activist judges have invented the notion out of the Fourth Amendment.)

I don't give this motion any chance at all; but at least Monetti won't be able to whine after his conviction that he was poorly represented. Mr. Monzon enjoys an excellent reputation here, and will touch all the bases. I'd like to think that once he's found guilty, he won't be getting out on appeal.
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Join an ongoing comment discussion of the Monetti case here.
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Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Accused child rapist John Monetti takes the scenic route

to Nebraska

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Updated and re-posted April 25, 2007:

A Plains Feeder reader has sent the following:

I made a few phone calls to the Nebraska Federal District Court and the US Marshal's office to find out what I could about John Monetti. I found out that he is being held in Cass County, Nebraska. He has a date set for a jury trial: May 21st at 9:00 AM in the Omaha Federal Building before Chief Judge Joseph F. Bataillon. I'll try to attend.

Presumably, Mr. Monetti is being held at the City/County Law Enforcement Center in Plattesmouth, Nebraska, not far south of Omaha. The Cass County Sheriff helps lighten the load that local crime places on the county taxpayers by contracting with the US Marshal to hold prisoners awaiting trial in federal courts like Monetti.

Judge Bataillon, a Clinton appointee, has been called an Arrogant Activist Judge in the blogs and cursed at WorldNet Daily and everyone else who is against homosex marriages, when he struck down a popular amendment to the Nebraska State Constitution banning gay marriage. As for his record with child molesters and pedophiles, I've got nothing so far. Anyone heard anything?
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No Con-Air for Monetti

Plains Feeder Reader Kay from Blair, Nebraska tipped me to this article in the Washington County Pilot Tribune & Enterprise. The feds are sending alleged child molester John Monetti back to Nebraska by bus to face federal charges. If you have ever endured a long bus trip, the kind that stops in every jerk-water town and is packed with cranky, sweaty but otherwise decent folks, then you can imagine how much worse a trip on a federal prison bus might be.

I'll bet that most of Monetti's fellow passengers weren't "respectable" members of the community before they got busted. Monetti's new mates will be murderers, illegal aliens, dope addicts and the like. Not just for this shameful bus trip, but until he is too old to molest little girls.

This is our stop!

John Monetti has no one to blame for his current and future circumstances but himself.

Feds indict accused child rapist John Monetti

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

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Update: 3/15/07: A Long Island reader sends us this link to a story by Joe Darrow at The Times of Smithtown. The title is Monetti heads west for trial in cuffs. For now Mr. Monetti is off the streets, perhaps for a long time. Folks won't have tell their kids to avoid him on the street or worry that he might be working at some equestrian event with them.
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Update: The Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise has gone the extra mile and interviewed Washington County Attorney Shurie Graeve. Evidently, Ms. Graeve was the one who asked the feds to review Mr. Monetti's case. Her concern was that Mr. Monetti might have gotten an inappropriately light sentence under Nebraska law. It is a legitimate concern. Quoting the prosecutor from the PT&E story:

"I wanted to insure that he would face a sentence that required incarceration and not probation. My understanding is there is a minimum prison sentence of 15 years (for the federal charges) and that's what we were seeking when we sought their assistance."

Our Nebraska legislature, as well as some of our prosecutors and judges, need to know about this sorry state of affairs. It is a shame on our state that we have to appeal to the feds for the kind of justice the people want for child rapists, molesters and internet predators.
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Update: with Video from News 12 Long Island
A feeder reader e-mailed this in along with this message:
"It looks like now maybe someone will do something with this case!"

John Monetti Indicted by the DOJ

Just got this surprising bit of news from NewsDay. John Monetti, the former teacher, school administrator and riding coach from Long Island, N.Y. is facing trial in Blair, Nebraska on charges that he met an underage Blair girl on the internet, and repeatedly traveled to Nebraska to have sex with her. Here is a lengthy quote:

Federal officials Tuesday will seek to extradite a former Long Island elementary school principal to Nebraska on federal charges related to child exploitation, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

John H. Monetti, 38, of St. James, the former principal of William Floyd Elementary School and a former member of the board of trustees at The Knox School in Stony Brook, was arrested last spring on charges related to what federal officials called "multiple sexual encounters" with a then 15-year-old Nebraska girl he met on the Internet.

A federal grand jury for the District of Nebraska indicted Monetti on the charges in February and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Federal agents from Immigration of Customs Enforcement located Monetti at his parents' home in St. James either late Monday night or early Tuesday morning and arrested him for extradition.

The complaint against Monetti seeks to have him removed to Nebraska, where he faces federal charges on sexual exploitation of a juvenile, travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile and computer enticement of a minor.

Neither Monetti nor his attorneys could immediately be reached for comment.

Monetti is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Wall at the U.S. Courthouse, Eastern District of New York, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip.

If convicted, Monetti faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison on the charge of sexual exploitation and a maximum of 30 years for each count, as well as a life term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count, officials said. The crimes Monetti is charged with allegedly took place between January and May of 2006.

I'm not sure of what to make of this. I do know that there have been several hits show up on my site meter of late from the Department of Justice. The feds seem to want to put him away for a long stretch. Perhaps Monetti thinks he will get to serve in a nice, cushy white-collar federal prison, like you hear about; with tennis courts and horseback riding. Or maybe this means justice will actually be served in this case. If the feds prosecute, we might avoid the vagaries of Nebraska justice in these matters.
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Updated: Here is the press release from the The United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. Excerpt:

Roslynn R. Mauskopf, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Joe W. Stecher, United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska, announced the arrest this morning of Suffolk County resident JOHN MONETTI, age 38, a former Long Island school teacher and elementary school principal, on federal charges relating to child exploitation. Footnote MONETTI’s initial appearance is scheduled this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge William D. Wall, at the U.S. Courthouse, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, New York.

The complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York requests MONETTI’s removal to face an indictment in the District of Nebraska, charging MONETTI with Sexual Exploitation of a Juvenile, Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Juvenile, and Computer Enticement of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e), 2423(b), and 2422(b), respectively. The indictment alleges that, starting in December 2005, MONETTI began communicating over the Internet with a then 15-year-old minor female in Nebraska to persuade her to engage in sexual activity, and that in May 2006, MONETTI traveled from New York to Nebraska, where he engaged in sexual activity with the minor.

Taking this unusual step is United States Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who has successfully prosecuted other such child molestation cases in conjunction with the DOJ's Project Safe Childhood, and Joe W. Stecher, United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska. These charges could conceivably lead to Mr. Monetti spending the rest of his life in prison.
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WOWT Omaha TV news has the story, as does AMNY. It seems Monetti will be extradited to face these charges in our Federal Court. This case seems to have caught the right eyes. Five government entitities were involved. According to Stecher, “The indictment was the result of the cooperative efforts of several law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Attorney’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. We appreciate the coordinated response from all agencies that have participated in this investigation.”
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Mr. Monetti's home town lawyer, Jerry Garguilo of St. James, New York seemed as surprised by the developments today as the rest of us. From AMNY:

Monetti's attorney, Jerry Garguilo, said the filing of federal charges took his client by surprise, but said he intended to plead not guilty when he is arraigned in Nebraska.

[Editor: Remember, he said he didn't really do anything wrong!]

Garguilo said it was not necessary to have federal agents arrest his client. "He has made every court appearance and there was nothing suggestive of a motive to flee," the attorney said.

No motive to flee? How about to avoid spending the rest of his wretched days in prison? Seems like motive enough to me. With Mr. Monetti's resources, (he posted $250,000 cash against a $2.5 million bond here in Nebraska) a twisted cat can find a happy reception in any of a number of countries. John Mark Karr would still be in Thailand if he'd only had a bigger roll of cash.
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Update: Most Recent NewsDay story doesn't make it clear whether Mr. Monetti remains in custody. This from the article sounds like they are hauling him to Nebraska toot sweet, "U.S. Magistrate William Wall denied Gargiulo's request that Monetti be allowed to travel back to Nebraska on his own."

Evidently he was indicted in February by a secret Grand Jury sitting here in Nebraska. The Fremont Tribune notes that only one witness was called to testify before the Grand Jury, Sgt. Jeff Young, Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigator. The jurors returned an indictment the same day Sgt. Young testified. I'm glad our Federal Prosecutors have the time and inclination to enforce these laws. I know they are working overtime on drug cases.
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Monetti faces no charges on Long Island: New York Daily News. Long Island's Homepage weighs in with this story. The New York Times buries the indictment.
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Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

NY reader asks about John Monetti

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

John Monetti in NY

A Plains Feeder reader from Long Island, NY has e-mailed the feedlot with a copy of the following message she sent to Nebraska State Attorney General Jon Bruning in which she voices her concern over recent developments in the John H. Monetti case. You may recall that Mr. Monetti faces charges in Nebraska for allegedly raping an underage, autistic girl from Blair. Mr. Monetti is now free on $2.5 million bail and back on Long Island, to the concern of many locals who were tricked by his posturing as a teacher, school administrator and youth riding coach. Here is her letter:

Dear Attorney General Bruning,

I have been following the John Monetti case since news of his May 06 arrest in Blair Nebraska, was reported in the Long Island newspapers. The case is of great interest to my family as my 15 year old daughter took riding lessons with John Monetti for over 5 years.

I am concerned that the case is not getting the attention it deserves. Charges have been dropped, court dates have been postponed, held over or are undisclosed. It seems that the case is slipping through the cracks, all while John Monetti is living his life on Long Island. We have left local stores on two occasions during the last two weeks in order to avoid him.

Are you aware that he was applying for employment as an equestrian judge? Please note the attached link to a 1-4-07 article entitled "Monetti nearly a horse show judge,"
in "The Times Of Smithtown" http://www.timesofsmithtown.com/

I really would like to know what is happening with this case, when is the trial date? What will the sentence be if he is found guilty on the reduced charges? What would sentencing have been without the reduction in charges?

Considering that John Monetti has chosen a career path that involves constant contact with young girls the outcome of this case should be of great concern to all involved

Thank-you

This is the reply she received from our tough on molesters, all for Safe Kids Attorney General Jon Bruning, essentially passing the buck:

Dear Ms. --------:

Thank you for taking time to contact our office.

Our office is not handling the case that you mentioned. The Washington County Attorney would be the most appropriate person to handle the concerns you’ve addressed. You may contact the county attorney at the following address or telephone number:

Washington County Attorney
1555 Colfax St.
Blair, NE 68008
(402)426-6811

We wish you the best of luck with your efforts to resolve this matter. Please feel free to contact us again if you have other questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

JON BRUNING
Attorney General

I wonder if Mr. Bruning's suggestion to write to the Washington County Attorney, the engineer of the charge reductions in the case that worry our reader, will help? If this case gets swept under the rug, if Mr. Monetti is sent back to NY to prey on more kids, I for one, will blame the Nebraska justice system. As the head of that system, I will hold Attorney General Bruning responsible.

We wish you the best of luck with your next election campaign, Jon.
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Addendum: Here is something Jon Bruning is doing to help lock up internet pedophiles. AG Bruning, in spite of looking like a high school coach, isn't a bad cat. Some of what he does puzzles me, but that is true of everyone I know in politics. Monetti's case won't wait for the Unicameral to move.
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
January 8, 2007: John Monetti back in the news
December 7, 2006: Bargain Struck with Prosecutors
October 29, 2006: Catch-up on the child rape case
August 30, 2006: John Monetti - accused child rapist - update
August 01, 2006: John Monetti back on Long Island?
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

Accused child molester John Monetti back in the news

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Monetti: looking for a new victim?

My contacts on Long island, where Mr. Monetti is living while out on a $2.5 million bail, sent me this story from the Times of Smithtown. I quote:

John Monetti, 38, a St. James resident set to stand trial in the coming days for the alleged repeated sexual assault of an autistic underage girl in Nebraska, has recently been attempting to judge horse shows on Long Island. This former firefighter and schoolteacher holds a license, not yet revoked, to judge these shows, where competitors include adolescent girls, and he nearly secured a seat as judge at an upcoming Island Series Horse Show in February.

Does it sound to you like Mr. Monetti is "trolling" for a new little love, or do you think he just needs the money? Here is the kind of place where he was trying to get a job: Smoke Run Farm, one of the kiddy equestrian camps where he used to judge horse shows. Looks like a candy store for a child molester, no?

Mr. Monetti's case has been bound over to the Nebraska District Court (Dist. 6) in Blair, and, so far, no trial date has been set. If you are worried that the accused will get off easy, you should contact our Nebraska State Attorney General's office in Lincoln. AG Jon Bruning has vowed to crack down on internet sex predators. I hope he is riding shotgun on the Washington County Attorney prosecuting the case for the state.

Not only is Mr. Monetti accused of locating his underage and autistic child rape victim on the internet, but he has held positions of trust as a school teacher, school administrator and riding coach. Evidently he still seeks such opportunities. A good reason that these stories shouldn't be swept under the rug just because they are unpleasant. I don't believe he thinks he has done anything wrong; like most sex perverts, whatever is wrong with him can't be fixed.
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
December 7, 2006: Bargain Struck with Prosecutors
October 29, 2006: Catch-up on the child rape case
August 30, 2006: John Monetti - accused child rapist - update
August 01, 2006: John Monetti back on Long Island?
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti - accused child rapist gets trial date

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Updated: Bargain Struck with Prosecutors

What do you think? Is it a fair trade-off, or is this cat getting a break? From the Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise:

The 11 counts of first degree sexual assault were amended to one count as a condition of Monetti waiving his preliminary hearing. Monetti is now charged with first degree sexual assault and intentional child abuse with no bodily harm, a class IIIa felony . The charge of sexual assault with the use of a computer was dismissed and Monetti also agreed to not request a bond review.

As a result, the 15-year old victim did not have to testify at the Thursday hearing. Monetti's lawyer had subpoenaed the girl for her testimony.

Eleven counts of child rape, and the much-vaunted internet aspect of this crime are out the window in a deal that doesn't even include a guilty plea. As far as I can tell, the only thing the state got was their wish to spare the victim an appearance at the preliminary hearing. I don't know why the PT&E calls it a plea bargain when there wasn't any plea.
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Update II: More details on the deal from the Fremont Tribune. It looks like the accused molester used his ability to require the presence of his accuser, a young girl with problems as leverage to get the charges reduced to the point where he may have a reasonable expectation of ever getting out of prison. While this may seem despicable, it is his right to do so under our current law. He gets a chance at getting back out on the street; the victim and her family aren't forced to confront Monetti and his lawyers.

With eleven child rape charges and a hanging judge handing down consecutive maximums, Monetti could have been looking an effective life sentence. He's good people, I guess. Slap his wrist, he won't do it again. Too rich for jail.

Monetti - Equestrian Coach - Accused Child Rapist

Evidently a trial date has been set, but KETV News fails to mention exactly when. Here is all they have to say:

A New York schoolteacher charged with sexually assaulting a Blair girl will stand trial in Washington County District Court.

Investigators said John Monetti struck up an Internet relationship with the teenager. They said they believe that Monetti routinely traveled from New York to Nebraska to have sex with the girl over a period of several months.

Monetti will be arraigned on charge of felony sexual assault of a child in January, prosecutors said.

Comments to some of the previous Plains Feeder posts about Mr. Monetti's trysts with an underage, autistic girl here in Nebraska indicate that the case is getting no news coverage on Long Island, where the former elementary school teacher, principal and riding coach lives. Looks like everyone expects the whole business to get swept under the rug. I hope the Washington County Prosecutors office doesn't think so.
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
October 29, 2006: Catch-up on the child rape case
August 30, 2006: John Monetti - accused child rapist - update
August 01, 2006: John Monetti back on Long Island?
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

Catch-up on the child rape case against John Monetti

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

"Well, I haven't really done anything wrong."

I'm sure you have seen this scenario play out before. An otherwise well-respected man is arrested for a crime and, at first, the papers are all over it. Then it must become old news or something because you don't hear any more about the case in the media until you read that the culprit has gotten away with a slap on the wrist. By then it is too late; public outrage has diffused, the victims are sick of the process, and the perp's lawyers have struck a nice deal with the prosecutors that shocks the conscience.

That might be what is happening with Mr. John H. Monetti's case just down the road from the feedlot in Blair, Nebraska. By way of background, I will repeat that Mr. Monetti is facing numerous charges, including child rape, resulting from his being caught having repeated sexual trysts with an underage, autistic little girl from Blair. At the time, Monetti was a respected fireman, school teacher, coach, and school administrator living on Long Island, New York. Evidence suggests that Monetti made several trips from New Your to Blair to meet with the girls whom he had met on the internet. If you want more details, I suggest you see the previous posts listed below. (Don't forget to read the comments engendered thereby; some of them are gems of idiocy!)

To help us out, Plains Feeder reader Kay has been following the matter and has posted some informed comments to keep us apprised of recent developments (read: delays) at the Washington County courthouse. it seems that the defense, predictably, will insist on dragging the child victim into court to testify. The prosecution tried to quash the subpoenas of the victim and her school guidance counselor, but failed. I don't know what they hope to achieve by interrogating the victim; in statutory rape cases, the consent or lack thereof on the part of the victim is irrelevant. I feel they are just hoping the girl will back out of the case to avoid the pain of public scrutiny. It is a cruel but often effective strategy.

Kay also informs us that another continuance has been granted, delaying Monetti's preliminary hearing which had been scheduled for last week. This time the prosecution sought the delay, giving the reason that the girl Monetti is said to have molested isn't doing well physically or emotionally. Meanwhile, Mr. Monetti remains free on $2.5 million bail. Free to hang out in his old neighborhood on Long Island.

Kay, I appreciate your help in keeping this case from slipping below the outrage radar. The old feeder hasn't the time to bug the Clerk of Court in Blair or to query the the County Attorney's office. Don't forget, if you are a Nebraskan, the prosecutor is bringing these charges against Monetti in your name: you have a right to oversee their work. I hope you will keep holding the officials' feet to the fire, Kay, until this creep gets the long jail term and public humiliation he so richly deserves.
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I can hear Monetti's East Coast apologists already: "He's innocent until proven guilty!" Here is my answer. He is innocent for now in the eyes of the Court. But the Court hasn't seen the evidence. From what I know so far, I have formed my own opinion: I think Mr. Monetti is guilty as hell.
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More from our correspondent Kay: "Other things are coming to light. There is a possibility that while in Nebraska, he was actually at the school & made inappropriate contact with another girl." Perhaps more charges are in the cards for this shameless miscreant.
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
August 30, 2006: John Monetti - accused child rapist - update
August 01, 2006: John Monetti back on Long Island?
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti - accused child rapist - update

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

"Well, I haven't really done anything wrong."

It has been almost a month since the Plains Feeder has had anything to report on the ugly case of Mr. John Henry Monetti. As you may recall, Mr. Monetti has been charged with child rape and sundry other crimes as a result of his repeated trips to Blair, Nebraska from his home on Long Island, New York.

The evidence, together with Monetti's own confession, indicate that he came here on several occasions to have sex with an under-aged, autistic girl in Blair that he met on the internet. He was caught by an alert citizen and a cop that followed a 'hunch'.

The old feeder has been getting numerous e-mails asking when the former teacher, school principal and riding coach is due back in Washington County Court. As things stand, John Monetti is free on a $2.5 million bond, and is thought to have returned to Long Island. (I don't expect him to return to Nebraska, ever.)

Today I broke down and called the Clerk of the Washington County Court to ask if anything was in the works for the criminal case. According to the clerk, John Monetti's case is due to be called on October 12th for hearing a "motion to quash". He also has a "preliminary hearing" on the docket for October 26th.

I don't know exactly what Monetti's lawyers want to quash, but motions to quash can be used in an attempt to nullify search warrants, testimony, confessions, subpoenas, etc. On the facts, it would appear that Mr. Monetti might have a laundry list of things he'd like to see quashed. The preliminary hearing, which can be waived by the defendant, is simply to determine if enough evidence remains to continue with the prosecution against Monetti after the motions are heard and ruled upon.

Whether Mr. Monetti must appear in person for the motion hearing is a matter to be decided between John's attorneys and the prosecutor. I don't expect that his presence will be required.

That is all I have on the John Monetti case for now. Stay tuned for further developments. In the meantime, I should point out that Washington County, Nebraska has its own perverts to catch and prosecute. We don't need any more of them from New York or anywhere else.
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Updated: Read Jim Brazda's new story in the Washington County Tribune & Enterprise for details. A comment from Kay in Blair, Nebraska explains:

The motion to quash was filed by the prosecution. His attorney wants to subpoena the girl along with the school counselor & is asking for school records trying to prove she was capable of resisting. She is only 15. Age of consent in Nebraska is 16. Still illegal!

I'm guessing the defense is threatening to make the whole business out to be the girl's fault. I think the last state to require bruises to prove up a rape case was Hawaii. None of these issues are germane to the statutory rape charges; consent, lack of resistance, acquiescence and even active encouragement on the part of the underage participant aren't proper defenses. Perhaps such issues might be more appropriate at sentencing.

This hard-ass defense would appear to be no more than an attempt at jury nullification. Nauseating as such tactics may seem, the accused is entitled to a zealous defense. If only Mr. monetti had the moral strength to admit that what he did violated the law. That would spare his victim from further distress. After all, it isn't the girl who is bringing charges against Mr. Monetti, but the State of Nebraska.
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Aside: The St. James Fire Department web site, where Lieutenant John Monetti was a firefighter, is once again available on the internets, sans Lt. Monetti's picture. (To see Engine 431's page without scrolling past the mugs of dozens of other firefighters, click here)
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
August 01, 2006: John Monetti back on Long Island?
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

Accused Child Rapist John Monetti back on Long Island?

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

"Well, I haven't really done anything wrong."

As the old feeder has blogged previously, news about the case of Mr John Monetti has fallen from the front pages. I get numerous anxious e-mails from cats who ask if there have been any new developments. I also get tips from concerned folks following Monetti's case. This post is an update; links to previous posts on the topic are at the bottom.

Mr. Monetti, a respected teacher and school administrator from Long Island, New York, was arrested and charged with child rape in Blair, Nebraska. Evidence shows that Monetti met an underage, autistic girl from Blair, Nebraska on the internet, then flew out here to have sex with her on numerous occasions before getting caught. He has been charged with felony first degree sexual assault of a minor, felony sexual assault with use of a computer, felony child abuse and third degree sexual assault here in Nebraska. These are serious charges that could result in a great deal of prison time for Mr. Monetti if convicted.

After a few days in jail, Mr. Monetti posted $250,000, 10% of his total bond of $2.5 million, and is currently free on a restrictive bail. The terms of his release from jail allow him to return to Long Island, where he must live with his parents. The feeder previously opined that Mr. Monetti might not wish to return to New York, but might skip out; who wants to spend decades in a prison in the middle of nowhere

Rumors and tips that the accused child molester may have returned to Long Island have reached the Plains Feeder. I'm given to understand that the area where his parents live is made up of the sort of small towns that make anonymity difficult. If Mr. Monetti was back home, folks there would know quickly. I have had e-mail tips to the effect that his parents may have more than one residence, but so far only a few Long Islanders have reported contact with him, and those were 'off the record' as to details. I can't say more regarding his possible return to Long Island or his reception there, pending confirmation.

There have been news reports that Monetti may have had child pornography on his computer at home in Suffolk County, New York. His computer there was taken by police, but no charges have been filed. I have reports from Long Islanders indicating that the authorities there frequently turn a blind eye to this sort of behavior. That would be sad. For so many years these crimes went unmentioned and unpunished.
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There isn't much to report on the status of Mr. Monetti's legal troubles here in Nebraska. I'm sure his case is on the docket at the Washington County, Nebraska courthouse. There will be discovery, motions, delays and plea-bargain meetings. All of this takes time. You can pester Ms. Paulsen, the court clerk, for details, but I don't advise doing so. I'm confident that the fine reporters at the Washington County Pilot-Tribune and the Times of Smithtown will tip us to any new legal developments in either Nebraska or Long Island.
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I'm trying to anticipate Mr. Monetti's defense attorney. What do you suppose he will do?
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Previous John Monetti posts in the Plains Feeder:
July 13, 2006: John Monetti Update
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

John Monetti

Some readers are wondering if Mr. John H. Monetti, the 37 year old Long Island, New York man who was arrested in Blair Nebraska, made a court appearance yesterday. It has been reported that Mr. Monetti was to appear on the 12th, but I'm guessing his attorney has the notion to delay the start of John's trial as long as he can. Perhaps he is working out a plea bargain, or just wants some time for things to cool off here.

Monetti's predicament has, for the most part, fallen below the radar of the news media. The Times of Smithtown has a new story by Laura Weir about John's making bail. The story includes more background and notes that Mr. Monetti has not been charged with anything in New York as yet. We don't know what was found on his home computer. Some reports say child pornography was found, but the Suffolk County Police detective on the case says what he saw wasn't exactly pornographic. Is that his call to make?

I'm not certain whether or not John Monetti has even left the state of Nebraska. It has been reported that he left Washington County. Blair, where John had been jailed, is the Washington County seat. He may not wish to return to New York, and may well be laying low. His lawyer, understandably, isn't talking.
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Something that continues to bother me about this case, Mr. Monetti's own words of denial at the time of his arrest: "Well, I haven't really done anything wrong." That and the fact that many Plains Feeder readers seem to agree with him. Really.
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Previously in the Feeder:
June 30, 2006 : John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti, accused child molester, makes bail

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

John Monetti Mugs

Jim Brazda, of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune, reports that John Monetti was bailed out of the Washington County Jail yesterday. According to Jim, Monetti paid ten percent of the $2.5 million bond, or $250,000. He also agreed to surrender any passport or travel agent license he might have, stay away from the victim, any witnesses and stay off the internet. He has reportedly already left the area; the terms of his bail will require him to live with his parents in New York, where he was living when he was arrested.

His next court appearance is scheduled for the middle of July. If he fails to appear, the state will be stuck for enforcing a pre-signed extradition agreement and/or collecting the whole $2.5 million. At least he shouldn't be molesting any more Nebraskans any time soon. He may also face charges in New York stemming from porno the authorities found on his home computer, which was seized after his arrest.

Before his arrest, Mr. Monetti was a well-respected teacher, school administrator, coach, and 'coed equestrian instructor', mostly on Long Island. All of these jobs brought him into contact with young girls.

Monetti the Equestrian

I have heard that Mr. Monetti was also active in the St. James Fire Department. Their web site has been unavailable to the general public since his arrest. I don't know what to make of it, but a commenter here at the Plains Feeder has suggested that John Monetti's peccadilloes were just the "tip of the iceberg". The tipster suggested that if one were to dig deeper at the fire department, more wrongdoing would be uncovered. If you wrote that comment, or if you have personal knowledge of anything related to this 'iceberg', please contact me by e-mail: ptg at plainsfeeder.com.

St. James Fireman

I wonder if we will ever see John Monetti here in Nebraska again. The charges against him: first degree sexual assault of a minor, felony sexual assault with use of a computer, felony child abuse and third degree sexual assault carry penalties stiff enough to make life on the lam look pretty good. Especially if you have rich folks to help you out. I don't think our courts should allow bail for out of town child molesters. Not ones like John Monetti, who apparently travelled to Nebraska repeatedly to have illicit sex with an underage, autistic girl from Blair that he met on the internet.
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Update: 7/7/06 A new story from Laura Weir in the Times of Smithtown has appeared. Laura, with cooperation from Jim Brazda and Doug Barber of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune has some excellent background and includes reaction from folks who knew Mr. Monetti in New York.
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Previously in the Feeder:
June 14, 2006: John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti's Bond Set In Blair, Nebraska

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

Bond has been set for John Monetti, the accused pedophile from New York arrested in Nebraska for sexually assaulting an underage, autistic Blair, Nebraska girl. I got the news from KETV:

Bond was set Wednesday for a New York man accused of sexually assaulting a Blair teenager.

A judge set bond for John Monetti at $2 million. Monetti waived extradition.

Monetti, 37, was arrested on Monday by Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies.

I don't know what the writer means by "waived extradition". Who is trying to extradite accused child molester John Monetti? I don't believe Monetti is charged with crimes anywhere but here, unless it would be New York charges for the smut found on a computer at his home in that state.
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Previously in the Feeder:
June 07, 2006: John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update
June 02, 2006: NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

John Monetti Arrested in Nebraska - Update

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

John Monetti

The Plains Feeder has logged a relatively large number of "john monetti" search engine hits since I posted NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska last friday. I have a few links to add, but the old post is stale and frieghted with squabbling commenters, so here is the new stuff.

I never linked to the Omaha World Herald stories about this matter because they don't want folks reading their web site. They make you register, cobble up your 'web experience' with ads, and after 21 days they make you pay money to read the story their precious archive. But here is a non-OWH reprint of most of their coverage of John Monetti's arrest in Washington County.

The New York News12 website has a busy and interesting discussion forum on the Monetti arrest in their Long Island section. Read what the accused molester 's home folks are saying about his arrest .

Finally, here is a link to the official William Floyd School District statement. Evidently, John Monetti was employed there.

I still think there was something fishy going on in New York following Mr. Monetti's getting fired from his job as a principal. I'll keep trying to sniff it out.
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Update I: Reporter Jim Brazda at the PT&E has a new story about Monetti, with more about the 'respectable' position he held back in New York.

Update II: Laura Weir writing for the Times of Smithtown wrote this piece to fill in the folks back in New York.

Update III: A reader from New York sent the old feeder an e-mail:

People here in NY are shocked, appalled and sickened. How could everyone not know?

He is also a volunteer Fireman and EMT in St. James fire dept. however the web site is currently blocked, and the coach of the NYU Equestrian Team.

The same reader also sent along a link to some disturbing equestrian photographs . If these are pictures of Mr. Monetti with young girls, it is no wonder the folks in New York are apalled.
Click for the most recent Plains Feeder post on this subject.
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Update IV: NY tipster says the above-referenced photos do include Mr. Monetti. Example:

John Monetti and friends - (I fuzzed the girls' faces)

The feeder's New York correspondent also said that Monetti lived "with his parents in St. James, several blocks away from Harbor Country Day School a private elementary school, [he] is an alumnus and advisor of the Knox School and has several siblings, two of which are twins of college age. His father is a well known and respected Doctor. " He seemingly fits no profile, if there is such a thing, for sexual predators.
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In other news, President Bush was in Omaha. He gave a speech in which he illustrated his plans for amnesty solving the illegal Mexican immigration problem. Comprehensive Immigration Reform, I think he called it.

President Bush in Omaha

Six Six Naught Six - Six Six MCMXLIV

D-Day - Omaha Beach - Bob Capa photo

Couldn't have said it better, Vinnie. - The connection between our Omaha and Omaha Beach is only marginally less tenuous than the Omen movie hype connection between today's date and 666, the mark of the Beast. That never stopped me from having a special place in my otherwise black and scabrous heart for the cats that took that beach on this day in that war.
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Addendum: While researching the New York background of Mr. John Henry Monetti, the pedophile who was making trips to Nebraska (and who knows where else) to have sex with a victim he found on the internet, I came across this bit of 666 reaction. The 6/6/06 warning was issued by the same school district where Monetti was supposedly a principal.

NY Teacher/Pedophile busted in Nebraska

Update: Click for the latest post on John Monetti.

John Monetti - How Tall?

An observant citizen not afraid to get involved combined with good police work resulted in the arrest of a New York pervert that came to Nebraska to have sex with an underage girl. John Monetti met the girl, who is reportedly autistic, on the internet, flew to the area, picked up his victim in a rented van and assaulted her in a motel room. The Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise has the story, as does KETV. But none of the local media have reported how tall Mr. Monetti happens to be, which might be critical to the ultimate outcome of the case against him.
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Monetti must have figured that NBC's Dateline wouldn't be catching predators in Blair, Nebraska this week.
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Update: Mr. Monetti's Memorial Day weekend outing was likely, "the third time this year" he has traveled "from his home in St. James, N.Y. to Washington County to pursue a relationship with a 15-year-old girl he met online." Read more new details in this nice article by Jim Brazda in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise.
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Update: This wretched molester has published the following anecdote from his years working with kids:

As the principal of an elementary school on Long Island, I was waiting for buses to arrive out in front of our school. One of our 1st grade students who was walking to school came up to me and said, "Down the street there's a sign that says 'NO DUMPING' and there's this man who lets his dog go to the bathroom there every morning!"

I found it at the National association of Elementary School Principals web site. Stories in the news have him as a former teacher, substitute teacher or principal, all great jobs for a pedophile. Seems nobody wants to claim this scum. I smell past allegations or incidents of impropriety covered up by career changes, like the Catholic Church did with some pedophilic priests.

I notice that it didn't take long for the hoity toity Knox School in St. James, N.Y. to pull Mr. Monetti's name from their website, where he was listed as a Trustee. Here is Google's cache of the old page with molester's name, and here's the new one without it.
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I can't believe this cat has apologists. One of them left this comment: "Monetti is, in all other respects, a great person." Maybe, but...
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Click for updated blogging about Mr. Monetti.