Mr. Joseph Ostrowski

Diocese of Scranton

Arrested: 2012, 2013

Guilty Plea/Sentencing: 2013

Assigned as follows:

Holy Redeemer High School (Wilkes-Barre, PA)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Mr. Joseph Ostrowski:

Mr. Joseph Ostrowski was a teacher and football coach who worked at Holy Redeemer High School in the Diocese of Scranton. According to media reports, in early 2012, Ostrowski was arrested on charges of making child pornography, including persuading and enticing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, including live transmissions via webcam, and using the internet to extort and attempt to extort additional nude photographs, images and live transmissions of sexual conduct from his victims.

He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing by federal prosecutors, Ostrowski's illegal activities occurred from 2006 through May 2012, before and during his tenure at Holy Redeemer. Prosecutors identified more than 60 victims in Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Minnesota, Indiana, Alabama, and Maryland. Some victims were adults; some were minors.

Ostrowski admitted that he frequently posed as a student, school alumni, and other fictional people on Facebook, Skype, e-mail, instant messaging, and cellular text messaging. At sentencing, he was described by prosecutors as "the very definition of an online predator."

Ostrowski was later charged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the molestation of a teenage boy in the locker room at Holy Redeemer. According to police, the incident occurred shortly before his May 2012 arrest by federal agents. He later pled guilty to the state charges and was sentenced to another two- to four- years behind bars.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, Ostrowski is currently housed at the federal facility in Loretto, Pennsylvania, a minimum security lockup. He is scheduled for release in February 2034. He will be 61 years old. Following his release, he will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania and nationwide. We can help.

Mr. Joseph Ostrowski – Diocese of Scranton