Denver, CO. Denver police arrested a 26-year-old youth minister with St.
John's Church of God in Christ after a 15-year-old member accused him of
sexual assault.(November 15, 2002, Rocky Moutain News)
Youth Paster arrested
News Report
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ANDERSON, S.C. Youth Minister William Bell of Mount Tabor Baptist Church
pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor 2nd
degree, four counts of lewd acts upon a child under sixteen and one count of
contributing to the delinquency of a minor. An investigation revealed two
male victims, the youngest was 10 years old. (WASV TC, Nov. 14, 2002)
Youth Minister Pleads Guilty To Sexual Conduct With Minors
Man Had Illegal Contact With Boys At Anderson Church
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Tulsa, OK. Son Minh Rockstroh, 48, was arrested Saturday on three counts of
rape by instrumentation and one count of lewd molestation of a child. He was
jailed about 2 a.m. Saturday and is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail. The
allegations have no apparent link to his work as a schoolteacher but to his
leadership of a small religious group called Church Life, Tulsa police said.
The victim and her mother met Rockstroh through Church Life, whose members
meet in each others' homes, Detective Chuck Haywood said. "There is not a
pastor of the church, but everyone considered him to be the guy in charge,"
Haywood said of Rockstroh. During an interview with police, Rockstroh
admitted that he had molested the girl on three occasions, jail records
show. (Tulsa World, 11/12/2002)
Church Leader Arrested
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Tagbilaran, Philipines. A HIGH school sophomore has formally accused a
pastor of sexually molesting him repeatedly since July 6 this year. The 16-
year-old boy, a native of Jagoliao island,Getafe town identified the suspect
only as one Pastor Jun de Jesus of the New Tribes Mission in Tagbilaran
City. (The Bohol Times, November 11 - 17, 2002)
Teener accuses pastor of sexual molestation
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LINCOLN, NE. Three lawsuits have been filed against a Lutheran church school
for alleged sexual abuse by former officials, including a minister who
served as principal. The lawsuits against St. John Lutheran Church in Seward
seek millions of dollars for the alleged abuse. The Lincoln Journal Star
reported in Saturday's editions that two lawsuits were filed in Lancaster
County District Court on Friday by unnamed plaintiffs who alleged they were
abused by longtime principal David Mannigel. Mannigel, a Lutheran minister,
apparently killed himself last year. (ABC News, November 2, 2002)
Lutheran Church sued over abuse by Pastor Mannigel
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LINCOLN, NE- Three lawsuits have been filed against a Lutheran church school
for alleged sexual abuse by former officials, including a minister who
served as principal. The lawsuits against St. John Lutheran Church in Seward
seek millions of dollars for the alleged abuse. The other lawsuit was filed
in U.S. District Court in Lincoln on Wednesday by T. Mark Kraft, a Colorado
man, for claims of abuse by retired teacher Arlen Meyer. That lawsuit seeks
$1 million. (ABC News, November 2, 2002)
Lutheran Church sued over abuse by Pastor Meyer
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DETROIT, MI. A minister at an east side Detroit church admitted Friday that
he had sex with a 15-year-old girl, leading to her pregnancy. Prosecutors
accused Delton Benson of having sex with the unnamed girl in August 2000. A
warrant was issued for his arrest last March charging the 32-year-old
minister at Straight Street Baptist Church with two counts of third-degree
criminal sexual conduct. (sexcriminals.com, Nov. 1, 2002)
Minister arrested
Detroit Pastor Has Dropped Out Of Sight
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First Baptist is a congregation that reveres its pastor. And so a dozen
church elders decided unanimously that pastor Rev. Lawrence French, who says
he is innocent, should remain as pastor. Convinced that the 72-year-old
pastor could not have committed the alleged offenses, they also concluded
that it would be unfair to French to notify other members of the church
about the allegations. (The Boston Globe, November 1, 2002)
Paster Convicted by Synod, but Congregation doesn't believe Pastor is guilty
Congration wants Paster to Remain
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OLNEY, Ill. If things had gone as planned, 35-year-old Leslie Mason would
have preached the keynote sermon at this year's annual meeting of the
Illinois Baptist State Association Nov. 7. Instead the former pastor of
Olney Southern Baptist Church faces 10 counts of criminal sexual assault
involving two teenage girls who attended his southeastern Illinois
congregation. (October 24, 2002, ABP)
Baptist Pastor charged with criminal sexual assault of two teenagers
http://www.baptiststoday.org/btns11_8b.html
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Incriminating statements by a Bible instructor charged this spring with
molesting two boys raise the prospect that he had other victims, a Salinas
police sergeant said Friday. Rev. Wesley Craig Parnell, 41, was arrested
June 14 at his townhouse on the 1800 block of Cherokee Drive on suspicion of
molesting an 8-year-old boy. Parnell was charged a month later with
molesting a 15-year-old boy three years ago. The victim is now 18. (The
Californian, October 26, 2002)
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Lawrenceville, GA. A Brookwood High School junior says her youth minister
touched her sexually two years ago when she was 14. He insists he didn't.
Now a Gwinnett County jury must decide whether Shannon Rhodes, 33, is guilty
of child molestation while he worked as youth minister at Sunrise Baptist
Church in Lawrenceville. The girl detailed her relationship with Rhodes
during more than two hours on the witness stand Tuesday. She said there were
three separate incidents during which he exposed himself to her, tried to
French kiss her and placed her hand to fondle him. (The Atlanta Journal and
Constitution, 10-23-2002)
Grand jury hears molestation case against ex-youth minister
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Austin, TX. A former youth minister faces up to 20 years in prison after he
was convicted of nine counts of child sexual abuse. Charles Richard Willits,
Jr., 44, a former youth minister at Great Hills Baptist Church, was
convicted Saturday. Sentencing was scheduled for Monday. (October 18, 2002;
Abilene Reporter-News)
Youth Paster Convicted in Criminal Court
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DENVER -- A former Denver school teacher and Episcopal priest accused of
sexually assaulting at least two boys in his Denver home was sentenced
Thursday morning to 24 years in prison. Donald Shissler, 68, pleaded guilty
to the charges in August as part of a plea bargain. He was originally
charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual
assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, one count of sexual
assault on a child -- pattern of abuse, and one count of sexual exploitation
of children. Based upon evidence found in his home earlier this summer,
there may be as many as 20 additional victims, detectives said. Police said
they seized hundreds of pornographic pictures and videos from Shissler's
house when he was arrested. Rappaport concluded in her sentencing remarks
that Shissler is a sexual predator who clearly committed crimes against
young boys for almost 18 years, including sexually assaulting a boy he
adopted. Prosecutor Kerri Lombari called Shissler's case "the most
disturbing case I have ever worked as a prosecutor." (October 17, 2002)
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Fresno, CA. A southwest Fresno pastor has been arrested on suspicion he had
a four-year sexual relationship with a teenage boy nearly 20 years ago,
Fresno police confirmed Monday. Calvin Eugene Moore, 45, a pastor at King
Solomon Baptist Church, was arrested for an alleged sexual relationship he
had with the boy, police said. Moore remains in the Fresno County Jail in
lieu of $550,000 bail. (The Fresno Bee; October 16, 2002)
Paster Arrested
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MANHATTAN, KS. -- A judge ruled Thursday that a man who was allegedly
molested years ago by a Manhattan minister will be allowed to testify at the
minister's trial, where he will face charges that he molested a teen-age
boy.
Brian N. Savage, of Manhattan, was bound over for trial in July. He faces
two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, two counts of criminal sodomy, two
counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child and one count of
aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
According to court records, Savage, 44, met the then-13-year-old victim at
the Seventh Day Adventist church in Manhattan where Savage was a pastor and
the victim attended. Savage took on a fatherly role, according to court
documents. After a relationship developed, Savage began engaging in sexual
acts with the boy, the records say. In at least one instance, Savage gave
the boy $100 for oral sex. Some of the molestation took place at the church.
(The Topeka Capital journal, Oct. 12, 2002
Molest: Manhattan minister to stand trial for allegedly molesting teen boy
from his church
http://cjonline.com/stories/101201/kan_pastaccuser.shtml
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Philadelphia, PA. In the late 80s, Harbaugh attended St. Paul's United
Church of Christ in Fleetwood, Berks County. Harbaugh was 15 years old when
she attracted the attention of the youth minister, Valerie Stoop, who was 27
at the time. Harbaugh says Stoops' alleged abuse began with holding hands,
progressed to kissing and then fondling. (WPVI Philadelphia, Oct 4, 2002)
Accused Minister hired by another Church
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TISHOMINGO, OK. Kentucky pastor accused of raping a 12-year-old Oklahoma
girl has surrendered to Johnston County officials. The Rev. Chadwick L.
Keathley, associate pastor of Ark of Mercy Church of God in Winchester, Ky.,
responded Tuesday to an arrest warrant issued Aug. 26. Prosecutors charged
Keathley, 27, with lewd molestation, first-degree rape and rape by
instrumentation. He was released after posting a $25,000 cash bond and an
Oct. 22 preliminary hearing was scheduled. The alleged incident occurred
during summer 2000 at a Church of God gathering at Camp Bond Youth Camp near
Tishomingo. (The Winchester Sun, Sept. 2002)
Pastor surrenders to Oklahoma officials
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MUSKOGEE, OK. A part-time minister for two United Methodist churches was
charged Thursday on accusations that he raped a teenage girl while the two
were on their way to church functions. Woodroe Wilson admitted to fathering
the girl's 8-month-old child, authorities said. (Tulsa World, 08/16/2002)
Minister charged with rape of teen
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Cape Coral, Florida. The FBI has issued an arrest warrant for a former
minister and radio evangelist after seizing child pornography, weapons and
other items from his home, records show. Troy Cecil Snowden, 59, was
indicted last week by a federal grand jury on charges of possessing child
pornography, wire fraud, transporting a child for illegal purposes and
possession of a shotgun. (August 11, 2002), AP.
Evangelist on child abuse charges
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HENRYETTA, OK. -- A former Dewar First Baptist Church music director worked
briefly at another Baptist church before his arrest on sexual battery
complaints last week. Aaron M. McDonald, 23, was hired in June at the
Calvary Baptist Church in Sulphur, said the Rev. Brent Parsons. Asked if the
hiring came after June 11, Parsons said, "Yes." McDonald is accused of
touching the genitals of a 15-year-old boy who, with another friend, was
staying the night at McDonald's mobile home in Henryetta on June 11,
according to an affidavit for McDonald's arrest. (Tulsa World, 08/03/2002)
Accused Dewar minister had been hired in Sulphur
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Walker County, AL. John Anderson, a Carbon Hill First Baptist preacher
charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of juveniles under
the age of 12, pleaded guilty to all charges in a Walker County court.
Earlier the same day Anderson also entered a "best interest" guilty plea in
another court on charges stemming from that area. During his tenure as a
minister, he had also reportedly been a pulpit preacher at Southside Baptist
in Russellville, Natural Bridge Baptist, West Blocton Baptist, Hartselle
Baptist and other churches in Mississippi. (Daily Mountain Eagle, Aug. 2,
2002)
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COLUMBUS, GA. An associate pastor in Columbus has been sentenced to 10 years
in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of child molestation and one
count of aggravated child molestation. Michael Krug, an associate pastor at
Calvary Baptist, pleaded guilty to the charges at the Muscogee Superior
Court. (The Augusta Chronicle, July 28, 2002).
Minister gets 10 years for child molestation
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Milwaukee, WI. Youth minister Kurt Danskin for the United Methodist Church
of Whitefish Bay pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge that he exposed
himself to a 17-year-old boy who spent the night with him at his
congregation-owned home last August. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 25,
2002)
Youth Minister pleads not guilty
Listing of Danskin at former church
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Jackson, MS. Curtis Hudson, associate pastor for youth at First United
Methodist Church, Hudson is indicted for one count of rape of a child, three
counts of rape and seven counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. He
is accused of raping and having sexual contact with a preteen and two
teenage boys from May 2000 to June 2001. (the Oak Ridger, July 16, 2002)
youth minister remains in jail
Former youth pastor turns self in on sex abuse charges
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Butler County, PA. A pastor faces charges for allegedly aiding and abetting
a parishioner accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old Allegheny Township
girl. Jeffery F. Cox, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Allegheny
Township, obtained airline tickets for accused molester Jeremy James
Whitmire, and helped Whitmire enroll in a home for troubled young men in
Texas, court documents said. (Butler Eagle, 07/16/02)
Pastor charged with aiding abuser
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Sacremento, CA. A 48-year-old man was convicted Wednesday in Sacramento
Superior Court of bigamy, spousal abuse and molesting a daughter of one of
three women he was living with.The prosecution said that Gonzalez told
people he was a bishop with the Mormon Church and was later excommunicated
when the church learned of his multiple wives, but that was never
substantiated. He later formed his own church, calling it Jesus Christ of
the United World Order, Cochrane said. (Sacramento Bee, July 11, 2002)
Man guilty of bigamy, molestation, spouse abuse
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Baton Rouge, LA. A Baton Rouge minister is of jail on a $15,000 bond
Wednesday following his arrest on molestation charges. Danny W. Johnson, Jr.
was a youth pastor at an unknown church here in Baton Rouge where he
molested a juvenile girl from 1997 to 1999, according to police. (July 9,
2002, WBRZ)
Minisiter arrested on molestation charges
WBRZ report
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Salt Lake City, UT. A child sexual abuse victim filed suit against The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Monday, accusing Mormon leaders
of providing a safe harbor for the pedophile who abused him. The plaintiff,
identified only as A. Doe, claims defendant Mitchell Blake Young abused him
between 1987 and 1992, when he was 6 to 12 years old. Young was convicted in
1993 of sexually abusing the boy and is serving a term of up to 15 years in
Utah State Prison for the crime. Filed late Monday in 3rd District Court,
the suit names Young and his father, Gordon Young. (THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
July 2, 2002)
Victim Sues LDS Church, Sex Abuser
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LDS Bishop Luis Gonzales has been charged with 20 counts of child
molestation, battery, rape, bigamy, stalking, and fraud. The victim, alias
Tammy Doe alleges, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been
fully aware of this man 's illegal activities since 1998 and failed to do
anything until the child molestation became public." The trial is being held
in the Sacramento County Court House, Department 26 located on H Street.
Nancy Cachrane is the Deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County, and is
prosecuting this case against Luis Gonzales. (Tapestry Against Polygamy,
July 2002)
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RALEIGH, N.C. A Southern Baptist missionary who was fired for abusing
children in Indonesia is working at a Raleigh church where the minister knew
of his past. (June 28, 2002; AP)
Molester Paster Knowingly Hired by another Church
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NEW PORT RICHEY, FL -- The mother of a 5-year-old girl has filed a lawsuit
against the Gospel Outreach Church of New Port Richey, alleging that her
daughter was molested because church officials failed to screen the
background of a church volunteer. Alfonso Morales, 54, pleaded guilty last
month to molesting the girl on a church bus in May 2001. He also pleaded
guilty to molesting a second 5-year-old girl in the church parking lot in
November 2000. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Morales was
previously convicted in New York of sexual battery on a child. He was
released from prison in 1992 after serving five years. (June 25, 2002, St.
Petersburg Times)
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Lake Wales, FL. William Benjamin Wells, 36, pastor of Christian Harvest
Ministries, was arrested on June 6 and charged with two counts of
molestation on a victim less than 12 years old, two counts of sexual assault
on a victim under 18 years of age, and one count of sexual battery on a
victim under 12 years old. (June 20, 2002; Lake Wales News)
Paster Wells arrested
News Report
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Gastonia, SC. GASTONIA - A local youth minister has been charged with three
counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor, police said Thursday.
Marty Eugene Meadows, 34, worked as a minister at the Sunset Lane Baptist
Church in Bessemer City, police said. Meadows appeared before a magistrate
and a judge Wednesday, and was released after posting a $3,000 bond. "There
are multiple victims," said Capt. Tony Robinson, a spokesman with the Gaston
County Police. "He was touching them in an inappropriate manner." (June, 14,
2002, The Charlotte Observer)
Youth minister faces sex charges
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/count
ies/gaston/3466742.htm
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Kansas City, KS. Reginald G. Robinson, 24, a resident of Kansas City, was
charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor on Monday, May 20, with one count
of statutory rape, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child
molestation.According to the police report, most of the incidents of
molestation occurred in the basement of the Beth Judah Ministries Church of
God In Christ. (The Call, June 14, 2002)
Church Youth Leader Charged In Molestation Of 13 Year Old
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Baton Rouge, LA. A Baker minister accused of molesting four children is
being sought after failing to surrender to East Baton Rouge sheriff's
officials Thursday. Benny McFarland, 41, 9240 Pettit Road, Baker, may be
"holed up," Sheriff's Col. Mike Barnett said. "He's very aware of the
indictment," Barnett said. "We'd like to get him in custody." The indictment
accuses McFarland of performing sex acts with four children from 1990
through 1998. The children ranged in age from 8 to 16. Prosecutor Kim Brooks
said McFarland initially met the children while working as a minister at
Hightime Evangelistic Center in Baker. He was arrested in 2000 after he was
accused of improperly touching a boy in his church office between 1993 and
1999. (The Baton Rouge Advocate News, 06/14/02)
Minister sought on child-sex counts
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Gastonia, SC. On Wednesday, Lincoln County pastor Dewey "Eddie" White was
found guilty in district court of propositioning a 15-year-old girl,
prosecutors said. The charge was soliciting to commit a crime against
nature, said Kay Killian, a Lincoln County prosecutor.(June, 14, 2002, The
Charlotte Observer)
Pastor of Heavenly View Full Gospel Baptist Church
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/count
ies/gaston/3466742.htm
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