Cusick trial to begin next month

Author: ADVANCE STAFF REPORT

The trial of Thomas Cusick, 47, the former Staten Islander accused of sexually abusing seven of his 28 foster and adopted children, is slated to begin Feb. 28 in Bucks County court, Doylestown, Pa.

Cusick -- who waived his appearance at an arraignment yesterday and has pleaded not guilty to the charges -- is a Port Richmond native who moved abruptly to suburban Pennsylvania from his Tompkinsville home last January. The playwright and composer was arrested in October after a 17-year old adopted son told Pennsylvania authorities Cusick had repeatedly engaged him in sexual acts beginning at age 9. Six other boys gave prosecutors similar accounts. Meanwhile, the Richmond County district attorney's office is continuing to investigate several new claims concerning possible sexual abuse on Staten Island, which emerged in the wake of the Pennsylvania charges. No charges against Cusick have been filed so far on Staten Island.