Mastermind Convicted in Teen-Ager’s Prayer Killing

A 20-year-old was convicted Monday of masterminding the slaying of a teen-ager who was garroted as he finished reciting a prayer.

A Superior Court jury convicted Frank Castaldo of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of attempted murder. He faces a mandatory life sentence at his March 25 sentencing.

Prosecutors said Castaldo directed a group of four teen-agers to kill 17-year-old Robert Solimine Jr. on Feb. 16, 1992. Three of the teen-agers testified that James Wanger, then 17, persuaded Solimine to recite the prayer, “Hail Mary,” as he sat in the front seat of a car, then strangled him from the back seat as he reached the last line.

Wanger was convicted as an adult of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The other three teen-agers pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court; one received a 12-year sentence and two were sentenced to 15 years each.

The juveniles said their group had a Mafia-type hierarchy led by Castaldo, and distributed religious medals to show their unity.

They said the group grew to dislike Solimine after he stopped drinking and tried to get them to do the same, and that they considered him a tattletale and pest.

In one unsuccessful murder plot, the teen-agers said, they planned to put an aerosol can in the gas tank of Solimine’s car, causing it to explode.

In the second, they hoped to persuade Solimine to handcuff himself to the car’s steering wheel so they could set the vehicle afire with him in it.

Castaldo cried as officers handcuffed him to take him to jail. His parents and attorney left the courtroom without commenting.

Assistant Passaic County Prosecutor John Snowdon Jr. said it didn’t matter that Castaldo was not present during the slaying.

“None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Frank Castaldo,” he said. “You can’t let people escape responsibility because they were not there.”