A convicted child rapist named in a recent front-page article in the Northeast Times was erroneously released from prison on Oct. 14, just 24 days after a Philadelphia judge had ordered him to serve at least 11–1/2 months behind bars.
The 14-year-old victim’s family learned of Rick Jastemski’s release from the city’s Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility that night via an automated telephone call at about 10 p.m. The city prison transferred Jastemski, 23, into the custody of officers from the state’s Board of Probation and Parole, who took the Megan’s Law offender to his parents’ Academy Gardens home, where he was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
The victim’s parents notified the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. The ADA contacted Common Pleas Court Judge Diana L. Anhalt, who ordered Jastemski to return to court last Friday, then sent him back to CFCF.
It remains unclear how both the Philadelphia Prison System, along with Probation and Parole, got the order to release Jastemski.
“Right now, we’re not worried about pointing fingers. We’re just glad he’s back behind bars,” the victim’s mom told the Times on Monday.
According to PPS Commissioner Louis Giorla, the prisons received a “judicial order” from the court on Sept. 20 to release Jastemski, effective immediately. In keeping with standard procedure, the prison confirmed the order with Probation and Parole, which would’ve gotten the same order, Giorla said.
Jastemski remained at CFCF while Probation and Parole “set up” the house-arrest site and electronic monitoring, which is also standard procedure, Giorla said.
The victim, who was 10 at the time of the crimes, and his family live about 10 minutes from Jastemski’s home.
Court records show that on Sept. 20, Anhalt sentenced Jastemski to serve 11–1/2 to 23 months in prison, followed by 18 years of reporting probation, including five years of strict house arrest and electronic monitoring. Anhalt ordered that Jastemski will be allowed to leave the house only for “treatment, therapy, medical appointments and religious services.” He must report as a Megan’s Law offender for life.
In June, Jastemski pleaded guilty to rape. As a 19-year-old, he lived with his parents next door to the victim and attacked the boy three times during summer 2009. The victim reported the abuse in March 2012. An Oct. 9 article in the Northeast Times reported on the victim’s recovery and his efforts to raise awareness about child sexual abuse. ••
