Prosecutor alleges 'horrific' sex crimes
Handyman accused of using job to assault, film children in two counties
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer

Clement Bilski Jr.

The videotaped footage found in the home of a local handyman was enough to "test the sensibilities of some of the most hardened police officers," according to one veteran law enforcement official.

A Monmouth County grand jury returned a 429-count indictment on Friday against Clement Bilski Jr., 43, formerly of Long Branch, alleging he exploited his role as contractor to film himself sexually assaulting the children of his clients, some as young as 23 months old.

In a press conference in Freehold, Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin revealed details of Bilski's alleged depravity, which included the victimization of children over the course of at least seven years between 1998 and 2005. According to Valentin, Bilski would gain the trust of his client's children and sexually assault them while videotaping the experience, often with unknowing parents or guardians on the premises. Bilski is claimed to have amassed a voluminous library of child molestation videos depicting at least 10 Monmouth County children and another in Ocean County.

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin and members of the NJ State Police and Prosecutor's Office announced the details of the indictment of Clement Bilski Jr. on Friday. Bilski is accused of 429 counts of aggravated sexual assault and manufacturing child pornography among other charges.

The 153-page indictment accuses Bilski of gruesome acts that included various types of sexual penetration, in some cases using objects.

He was charged with 74 counts of aggravated sexual assault, 30 counts of second-degree sexual assault, and 295 counts of endangering the welfare of a child by manufacturing child pornography, as well as charges of weapons possession and obscenity.

Bilski, a self-employed home improvement contractor, would position himself in such a way as to remain unseen from parents and caretakers while coercing children into engaging in sexual acts, according to authorities. He would convince his victims to not divulge these acts to parents, Valentin said. In some cases, Bilski would hide video cameras in the bathrooms and bedrooms of his clients, invading their privacy and recording them in various states of undress.

"The charges ... reflect the conduct of a deviant sexual predator who targeted the most innocent and defenseless members ... for his own gratification." - Luis A. Valentin

According to Valentin, Bilski would entice his victims through rewards such as candy and toys, often encouraging them to assist him in the home repair work in order to commit his crimes.

"In essence, Bilski effectively groomed the aggravated sexual assault victims to engage in these horrific acts through his coercive words and conduct," Valentin said.

Bilski was arrested at his home in Ocean Township in April 2006 after the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) linked him to a computer that had been sharing pornographic videos of children engaged in sexual acts. A search of his home revealed his own library of child pornography. Bilski had moved from his Elberon home earlier that month.

"It's an ongoing investigation as the prosecutor has indicated. We need the help of the public to identify potentially more victims." - Lt. Col. Frank Rodgers

"Each of the many separate crimes that are charged, reflect a separate and distinct assault by Bilski of the physical well-being, the personal privacy and the human dignity of the victim that is indicated," Valentin said. "The charges returned by this grand jury reflect the conduct of a deviant sexual predator who targeted the most innocent and defenseless members of our community to abuse for his own gratification."

Bilski operated his business under at least three different names, such as Bilski Home Improvement, Bilco Home Improvement and J&Z Construction.

According to Valentin, a task force was created to examine the evidence removed from Bilski's home and identify the victims. The task force included members of the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit; the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Computer Crimes Units; the Ocean Township, Long Branch and West Long Branch police departments; and the State Computer Forensics Laboratory.

On many of the counts, Bilski would be subject to the "No Early Release Act," which would require him to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole. When totaled, the 429 counts against Bilski carry over 4,881 years in prison time and more than $64 million in fines.

Valentin would not comment whether any of the children Bilski allegedly molested came forward before being identified by law enforcement.

"It's not unusual in the course of a sexual abuse investigation, particularly a child sexual abuse investigation, to find that the late disclosure is often premised on the conduct of the wrongdoer," Valentin said.

He credited Bilski's coercive nature as his way of gaining access to the children and keeping the crimes secret for many years.

Lt. Frank Rodgers from the New Jersey State Police said that investigators have considered whether Bilski worked alone or with other people, but that it would be inappropriate to respond at this time.

The charges against Bilski reflect only what was found on the videos procured from his home, and Valentin believes there may be more victims either on videos that have been hidden or destroyed, or incidents that were not videotaped at all. The investigation into Bilski is considered active and the true scope of the case is not completed.

Valentin implored anyone with information regarding other possible victims or anyone who may have contracted with one of Bilski's businesses to contact the Prosecutor's Office or the New Jersey State Police.

"It's an ongoing investigation as the prosecutor has indicated," Rodgers said. "We need the help of the public to identify potentially more victims."

Bilski's attorney, Richard Keil, could not be reached for comment.