Brooks, after entering the plea, was sentenced in Homer Town Court on Tuesday, December 17, to a term of probation supervision.
Cortland County District Attorney Patrick Perfetti reports Brooks admitted to sending inappropriate text communications throughout 2020 and 2021 with the victim, who was less than 17 years old at the time.
DA Perfetti notes that in addition to this conduct violating the law, it is prohibited by the policies of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse regarding communications between its employees, to include clergy, and minors.
Due to Brooks’ lack of a criminal record, the prosecution felt a term of probation supervision, that will include counseling and a full stay away Order of Protection was a proper result.
Brooks also faced a charge of forcible touching. According to court documents obtained by CNY Central after authorities arrested Brooks in September of 2023, the alleged victim told deputies Brooks came to her family's home often for dinner to go swimming and on bus trips with other members of the diocese.
The girl told investigators Brooks touched her inappropriately, pulled her on top of him while they were swimming in a pool and would give her long hugs. The girl also said during a bus trip to Indianapolis, she woke up to Brooks putting his hand on her thigh.
"I had many incidents and encounters with Nathan that me uncomfortable and I now know he was grooming me," the girl wrote.
Perfetti explains that the City matter dealt with allegations asserting conduct occurring on a church sponsored bus trip.
At the time of the filing of the charges, it was thought that the trip originated in the City of Cortland; thereby establishing jurisdiction in Cortland County.
However, further investigation discovered that the trip originated in DeWitt Township, Onondaga County, for the year in question.
Therefore, Cortland County lacked legal authority to prosecute, according to Perfetti.
That jurisdiction would rest with the Onondaga County District Attorney; DA Bill Fitzpatrick said that his office will not pursue charges based on conversations with the family of the victim.
The case was originally charged solely in Cortland County. When it had been pending awhile an issue arose that suggested the misdemeanor forcible touching may have occurred in Onondaga County. The family of the victim was quite adamant that they were satisfied with the deal negotiated by the Cortland DA. Rather than litigate the speedy trial issue and the jurisdiction issue, we honored the family’s request and indicated that the the Cortland plea would satisfy our potential charges. We consulted with DA Perfetti and the family throughout this process. - D.A. Bill Fitzpatrick