2008 Woodie Awards
Former Stevens Administrator charged with attempted sexual assault
Michael Lutkenhouse
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Opinion
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Recent controller for Stevens and father of three, Michael Donofrio, was arraigned last Friday with charges of second degree Luring, second degree Attempted Sexual Assault, third degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child and third degree Attempted Promoting Obscene Material according to a news release from the Morris County Prosecutor. Each second-degree charge carries a maximum of 10 years and each third degree charge carries a maximum of 5 years for a possible maximum sentence of 30 years. He is accused of having sexual online conversations with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old girl.
Police were alerted to the situation by a member of the community who noticed the Little League coach who had been profiled on the website for "Perverted Justice" as a person who had sexual conversations with a 45-year-old volunteer posing as a 13-year-old. The "Perverted Justice" investigation was initiated as part of the NBC show "Dateline: To Catch A Predator." The website posted the chats that occurred between March and April of 2007, including what is described as "graphic sexual conversations and commentary initiated by the accused" in the news release from the office of the Morris County Prosecutor.
Patrick Berzinski, Director of University Communications, was able to confirm that Mr. Donofrio was put on administrative leave in mid-July and resigned July 31st. He went on to say, "action was taken as soon as Stevens was informed a situation existed."
Judge Salem Vincent Ahto set bail at $50,000 and went on to disallow the Defendant to have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 excluding his children along with internet access for any purpose.
People contacted for this story stressed that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Police were alerted to the situation by a member of the community who noticed the Little League coach who had been profiled on the website for "Perverted Justice" as a person who had sexual conversations with a 45-year-old volunteer posing as a 13-year-old. The "Perverted Justice" investigation was initiated as part of the NBC show "Dateline: To Catch A Predator." The website posted the chats that occurred between March and April of 2007, including what is described as "graphic sexual conversations and commentary initiated by the accused" in the news release from the office of the Morris County Prosecutor.
Patrick Berzinski, Director of University Communications, was able to confirm that Mr. Donofrio was put on administrative leave in mid-July and resigned July 31st. He went on to say, "action was taken as soon as Stevens was informed a situation existed."
Judge Salem Vincent Ahto set bail at $50,000 and went on to disallow the Defendant to have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 excluding his children along with internet access for any purpose.
People contacted for this story stressed that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.