Posted on 03/05/2007 1:30:57 PM PST by NYer
He did eight years in prison for torching a Catholic church in Queens, but it didn't take long for Calvin Bostick to return to the scene of his crime.
Eleven days after he was set free, Bostick returned to St. Anthony of Padua Church in South Ozone Park, sought out the pastor and allegedly beat him with a cane.
"I'm just in shock. I still remember Feb. 15, 1999, when the fire happened. I just don't understand why this man would come back," said parishioner Maria Biordi-Walsh.
"He must not like St. Anthony."
Bostick, 48, a career felon, confronted the Rev. Christopher Ezeoke outside St. Anthony's rectory at about 5 p.m. on Feb. 23, authorities said.
Ezeoke attempted to walk away from Bostick on 128th St. but the ex-con allegedly clubbed him in the head with a cane.
Bostick then pushed the 44-year-old priest inside the rectory and continued to hit him, according to authorities.
Determined to defend himself, Ezeoke, who is 6-feet-2, about 7 inches taller than Bostick, grabbed the madman and held him until police arrived, a law enforcement source said.
Cops hauled Bostick out of the tan brick house of worship, which stands on the same land that a white wooden frame church occupied before Bostick burned it down in 1999.
Ezeoke, a native of Nigeria, was not assigned to the parish at the time of the fire and had no idea Bostick was the arsonist responsible, the source said.
The priest had encountered Bostick a few times in the days leading up to the attack because the ex-con had approached him to ask for money, the source said.
"The priest gave him some loose change a couple of times. This time the priest said no and walked away," the source explained. "That's when [Bostick] attacked him."
Bostick has served time in prison for arson, robbery and grand larceny. He also has been arrested at least 20 times, mostly for drug crimes, a police source said.
He had been released from prison on Feb. 12 after serving the maximum sentence for torching St. Anthony's, records show.
He had been homeless since his release and was carrying a crack pipe when he was arrested last week, the source said. If convicted of assaulting the priest, Bostick faces up to 15 years in prison.
"Son - have you rehabilitated yourself?"

He's a crackhead. It doesn't matter what he likes or doesn't like, he has to have money for crack, that's all that matters to him.
As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.
Crack is wack. Or so they say.
I believe that you have identified the essence of the matter. The perp is incompatible with civilised society.
"Give us your poor..."
Effin' French!
Bring out your dead...
Some perps can't live on the outside, so they find the easiest crime they can find to get them sent back into the safety and routine of prison. If he's cracked up, then all the more reason for him to be sent back. Of course, if I was the judge, I'd see about getting him sent to Maricopa County, Arizona...
An interesting adage. Do you have this cross-stitched and hanging on a wall at home?
I read the title and thought it would start; "he did eight years in the White House..." Thought it was a Clinton article.
An interesting adage. Do you have this cross-stitched and hanging on a wall at home?
It's more than an adage, it's God's Word: Proverbs 26:11. Better than hanging it on the wall is hiding it in one's heart.
Sounds as though he just broke his parole!
Or maybe they need to get a restaining order for him.......
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