Pulaski County preacher facing felony sex charges

J.P. Hale usually stands behind a pulpit, but this week he was standing in front of a police camera as they snapped mug shots.
   
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office says this week the 73-year-old pastor was arrested and charged with one count of indecent liberties with a child.  It’s a class six felony.
   
Thursday afternoon we showed up at Hale’s house to talk to the accused religious leader, but he had been advised by his attorney not to talk.
   
The Pulaski County Sheriff won’t give any details on the alleged crime or when it happened, but Sheriff Jim Davis did say it has nothing to do with Hale’s church, Newbern Church of Jesus.
Come this Sunday no one will be walking through the church doors, a sign has been posted at the Newbern church of Jesus saying closed until further notice.
   
When I asked Hale which church he ministered at he wouldn’t answer, he just said he had been preaching for 41 years.
The Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mike Fleenor, isn’t prosecuting this case.
   
He released this statement saying “There was a conflict of interest for the Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney office to prosecute the cases against Reverend John P. Hale.
   
On Monday the Circuit Court appointed the Giles County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office to handle the case.
   
Therefore we have no further comment on the matter,“ Fleenor said.

Pastor accused of raping his ten-year-old stepdaughter

A doctor is expected to tell the Khayelitsha Regional Court how an 11-year-old child suffered after allegedly being raped by her stepfather, who is also a pastor, when his trial commences next year January.


The 11-year-old child, who cannot be named to protect her identity, was allegedly raped by her stepfather on June 2 this year, and told not to tell anyone or else he would kill her.

The incident happened when her mother was away for the night.

The girl, who presented testimony in camera with only media present, and via CCTV, said on the night in question her stepfather called her to come share his bedroom.

“I was scared and did not know what was going to happen when he called me into the bedroom. I told him it was painful but he would not listen,” said the girl, who was ten-years-old at the time of the alleged incident.
She said despite her stepfather’s warning that he would kill her if she told anyone, she could not keep her terrible secret and told a friend at school about it the next day.

However, her friend was also afraid to tell an adult about the incident, but the girl eventually told social workers when they paid a visit to her school six days later.

She said before the alleged rape her relationship with her stepfather was “good”.
“He was not assaulting or shouting at me,” she said.

Representing himself, the accused asked the court why, if he had raped her with his “big” penis, she had not bled or sustained any injuries.

Presiding magistrate Gaynor De Wee answered that a doctor would present evidence that she suffered internal injury and reminded him that she had only been examined days after the alleged rape.

The accused also asked her if she remembered the day the alleged rape occurred and what clothes he was wearing, to which she replied: “no”.

The accused said he had never called her to come to his bedroom on the night in question and had only called her the following morning when he was going to work, when he asked her to close the door of the house properly because it was faulty.

De Wee postponed the case until January 20, 2009.

Judge sets $350K cash bond for pastor charged in rape

A judge at Queens Supreme Court set a bond amount Wednesday for a Norwalk pastor who was arrested Nov. 24 on rape and incest charges.

The bond for the Rev. Phillip Joubert, 48, a pastor at New Light Missionary Baptist Church, was set at $350,000 cash by Supreme Court Justice Robert McGann. He was still being held at the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island at press time Wednesday, and he is scheduled to appear in Queens Criminal Court on Dec. 21.

Queens-based attorney Richard Bensen, who represents Joubert, had not returned phone calls at press time.

Joubert has been held without bond since he was taken into custody by officers from the 112th Precinct of the New York City Police Department as he arrived at JFK International Airport in Queens after a trip to Israel. He was arrested for multiple charges related to the rape of a child.

The alleged sexual misconduct took place during the summer at Joubert's home in Queens, N.Y., according to a source close to The Hour who has knowledge of the case. Another minor was in the house but on a different floor at the time the alleged abuse occurred, the source said.

The allegations against Joubert came to light after a report was filed with the Norwalk Police Department about an incident that occurred at the family's Lexington Avenue home, according to the source.

Joubert had allegedly beaten a minor with his fists and while the child's mother was consoling the victim, the child told her mother about the sexual abuse, the source said.

It is not known if Norwalk Police are looking into the allegations against Joubert. A police log from November reveals that officers were called to his Lexington Avenue home for a sex complaint, but a police report on the incident is not available to the media. Sgt. Ashley Gonzalez, of the Norwalk Police Department's Youth Bureau, said he would not comment as to whether or not there is an ongoing investigation into Joubert's alleged sexual misconduct.

Pastor jailed for making ‘rape’ video

VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia pastor has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after he admitted making an explicit video that simulated the rape of a young teenager -- the latest incident involving a Canadian member of the clergy and child pornography.
Larry Robert Collins, 45, a pastor from the Church of Nazarene in Surrey, B.C., was nabbed following an investigation that began back in June 2008.

Investigators found a video showing a teenage victim in sexually explicit scenes, interspersed with photographs of the girl covered in writing that encouraged her "rape," said Const. Rosiane Racine of the B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation Unit.
After the evidence trail led to Collins, the pastor confessed to making the video and distributing it on the Internet.
He also created fake online accounts pretending to be the victim and encouraged people to go to a website where the explicit video was available.

Collins even "posted the victim's name and hometown, which jeopardized the child's safety," said Racine.
Collins was also originally charged with distributing child pornography, but that count was stayed by the Crown.
He was convicted of possession of child pornography.

Const. Racine said the judge noted the "heinous nature" of the crime in his sentencing.

"Despite being shaken up by the incident, the teenage girl is safe and sound with her family," Const. Racine said.
This was just the latest incident involving a member of the clergy in Canada and child pornography.

An Anglican priest in Newfoundland was arrested this week and is now facing child-pornography charges, according to a St. John's radio station.

VOCM reported that Rev. Robin Barrett, 52, of Conception Bay South, N.L., was arrested after an investigation was launched prompted by the Toronto Police Service-Child Exploitation Section.

Later this month, former Nova Scotia bishop Raymond Lahey is to appear in court to face charges of possessing and importing child pornography.

The 69-year-old was arrested in September after a search of his laptop at an Ottawa airport allegedly discovered graphic images.
Lahey, who until shortly before his arrest had been the bishop of Antigonish, oversaw a $15-million legal settlement to victims of priest sexual abuse in his diocese.

That was before announcing that he was stepping down for "personal reasons."

And a former Windsor, Ont., Catholic priest has been charged in Canada with molesting teenage boys at the mission he founded in Haiti.
John Duarte, 43, is charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation involving boys aged 12 to 17.

The alleged incidents are said to have occurred in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and the tiny fishing village of Labadie. Hearts Together for Haiti, a Windsor-based charity Duarte founded, operated schools, a health clinic and a sponsorship program for impoverished families.

Duarte was arrested Oct. 20 in the Dominican Republic where he had been living. Canadian authorities retrieved him Oct. 26.
Duarte's next court date is scheduled for Dec. 8. He will appear by video from the Windsor Jail.

Vancouver Province

Youth Minister Arrested For Sex With Teen

The Clermont County youth minister is charged with sexual battery for an incident involving a 15 year old girl.

39 year old Christopher Evans of Bethel is accused of having a sexual relationship with the teen from mid-July until just this past Monday. Evans is the youth pastor at the Saltair Church of Christ, located between Bethel and Felicity on State Route # 222. He's served in that position since November of 2007.

Detectives say Evans willing went in for questioning and was co-operative with investigators. There is no indication that the sexual incidents took place at the church, but rather, detectives say it appears the two met at Evan's home. There are also no other known victims at this time.

Evans was arrested this morning and is currently in the Clermont County Jail. A judge set his bond this morning at $250,000.  If he is able to post the bond, he's under orders to stay from children under the age of 18, except his own.

Fugitive Pastor Arrested

A pastor who has been a wanted man for months is now in custody in Gastonia.

Robert Adams was wearing camouflage as he was brought into the Gaston County Police Dept. just after 4 p.m. Friday.Adams was found in a Lincoln County home late Friday afternoon. Police said they found him thanks to an anonymous tip.Investigators said Adams sexually assaulted a child.

He was a pastor at the Mount Calvary Tabernacle Church on Camp Rotary Road, but he had not been seen since March, when the allegations were first made.

New York Police Arrest Minister for Allegedly Raping Teenage Relative

The Rev. Dr. Phillip Charles Joubert Sr. was charged last month after the victim came forward to police. He pleaded not guilty last week in a Queens court on first-degree rape and other charges and was held without bail. His lawyer has no comment.

The victim told police the 48-year-old minister raped her on July 30. She reported it months later to the 112th precinct in Queens, not far from his Community Baptist Church. He is also pastor of the New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Norwalk, Conn.

A person who answered at the Queens church refused to comment. The number at the other church was disconnected and no one answered at his home.

Kaufman County church music director resigns after child porn found

A 60-year-old music director at a Kaufman County Baptist church resigned after authorities found child pornography on his home and church computer, authorities said Wednesday.

David Ray Gray of Scurry, music director at Mt. Olive Baptist Church for about five years when he resigned last month, told agents he had been looking at child porn for 30 years, officials say.

Gray declined to comment Wednesday. He was released on bail earlier in the day after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Monday.

Mt. Olive's pastor, Garris Baggett, said Gray did not work with children as part of his job directing the adult choir and overseeing the church's music during services. Baggett said Gray did not work with the children's choir or ministry, other than volunteering to help with vacation Bible school two years ago.

"It bothers me that he was a trusted staff member doing this at his home and at the church," Baggett said.
He said he knew of no complaints from anyone at the church about Gray. "It's very surprising," Baggett said.
According to a criminal complaint, Gray purchased two subscriptions to child porn Web sites in late 2006. It's unclear why there was a delay, but on Nov. 3, ICE agents went to Gray's home and confronted him. He admitted buying child porn, which agents found on his home and church computers. After gathering more information, agents arrested him three weeks later.

Two other men were sentenced in unrelated child porn cases Wednesday. Both will be on supervised release for life after they finish their sentences.

• Jeffrey Keith Hill, 33, of Richardson received 10 years in prison after U.S. Secret Service agents found more than 600 images of child pornography at Hill's home during a search in February 2008.

• Jerry Lee Shelton, 42, of Royse City, Texas, received more than eight years in prison. In November 2008, Shelton's girlfriend called police to report that he had assaulted her when she found him looking at child porn on the computer. ICE agents found more than 1,000 illegal images.

Former Catholic youth minister charged with molestation

SPRINGFIELD - A former youth director for the Catholic Diocese of Savannah has been arrested on charges he molested at least two girls during the time he was employed with the church.

Effingham County sheriff's deputies arrested Julian Sheppard Heyman III, 52, of Springfield on Monday at his residence, sheriff's spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.

Heyman is currently employed as a teacher in the Effingham County school system.

Barbara King, spokeswoman for the Savannah Diocese, said Heyman was employed as director of youth ministries from July 1988 to October 1999 and resigned his position to further his post-graduate education.
"Our Diocese encompasses 80 parishes in southeast Georgia," King said. "He was in charge of coordinating youth leaders for each parish and developing activities for youth and young adults.

"He did fine work during his time with us."

Ehsanipoor said two victims reported to sheriff's investigators about two weeks ago they were molested as far back as 1997 and 1998, during the time Heyman was employed with the Diocese.

There was no indication, however, the alleged acts occurred during his church duties.

"Both victims were under 10 years of age at the time the crimes took place," he said. "These incidents are currently being investigated. Neither one of these victims were Heyman's students at the time."

Heyman has been charged with aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, sexual battery and enticing a child for indecent purposes in connection with the crimes committed against one of the victims, Ehsanipoor said. Additional charges are pending, he added.

Heyman is president of the Georgia Salzburger Society and also a sixth-grade science teacher at Ebenezer Middle School in Rincon. He was named a Teacher of the Year at the school for 2009.

"At this point in the investigation, there is no indication these incidents took place at the school," Ehsanipoor said.

Effingham County Superintendent of Schools Randy Shearouse said since the investigation so far has revealed only that the alleged incidents took place away from school property and were not school-related, Heyman remains an employee of the board of education.

"We're just learning of the situation and don't have a lot of information right now, but he is still an employee of the school system," Shearouse said. "The issue is one we'll be following and will make a decision as more information is released."

Heyman's first court appearance was Tuesday. According to jail documents, no bond was given, and the case was bound over to Superior Court.

Heyman remains in the Effingham County jail.

Abuse charge against worship leader rocks prominent Fla. church

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (ABP) -- A Florida Baptist church known for its sometimes-provocative efforts to entice first-time visitors is receiving unwanted attention after the arrest of a staff member on molestation charges.

The Coral Springs Police Department arrested Russell Dion Lewis, 28, Nov. 21, on one count of custodial sexual battery and 10 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation. If convicted he could receive up to 15 years of prison.

Police believe Lewis, a worship leader and assistant youth minister at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Fla., was involved in a five-month relationship with a 14-year-old female. While authorities say the acts were consensual, in Florida a 14-year-old cannot legally consent to sex.

Russell Lewis, a worship leader and youth worker at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Fla., is charged with sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. (Broward County Jail photo)

Tom Albright, executive pastor of the prominent Fort Lauderdale-area Southern Baptist church, said upon learning of the allegations church leaders immediately dismissed Lewis for "gross misconduct."  He said the church offered counseling to anyone on the staff or in the congregation needing it and is cooperating with authorities in ongoing investigations.

"Recognizing it is ultimately a spiritual battle in which the church is engaged, we remain steadfast in our calling and commitment to continue to proclaim the Word of God and provide hope, healing and restoration to anyone seeking God's Grace and peace in these tough times," he said.

David Hughes, lead pastor of the 4,800-member congregation founded in 1988, interrupted a scheduled series of sermons Nov. 22 for a "family talk" with the church.

"There is brokenness, anger and a lot of hurt," Hughes told worshippers at the 11:15 a.m. service. "This is an ugly story." The pastor was quoted by the Palm Beach Post. A page on the church website offering sermon podcasts had not been updated since the Nov. 15 service at the time this story was written.

Church known for unconventional outreach
Hughes, pastor of the church for 10 years, is well-known in Florida Baptist life for his unconventional outreach methods. He preached the annual sermon at the recent Florida Baptist Convention meeting, describing his church as one willing to do "anything short of sin" in order to win people to Christ.

In the past the church has gotten publicity by giveaways including Hannah Montana concert tickets and a free iPhone and $15 iTunes gift cards to first-time guests promoting a particular series of teachings.

Some of the promotions have been controversial. A 2007 sermon series titled "The Bare Naked Truth on Sex" was promoted with a billboard on Interstate 595 showing two pairs of feet hanging off the end of a bed. 
Another sermon series on stripping away false values described Church by the Glades as the "World's Largest Strip Club." A promotional message invited visitors to "get naked with 5,000 of your closest friends without ever taking off your clothes."

According to the Florida Baptist Witness, Hughes told convention messengers Nov. 10 that his church is provocative "because I believe heaven is real and hell is real." He described the congregation as "10 toes over the edge and the ledge" in its commitment to reach the lost.

In his Nov. 22 message to the church, however, Hughes said his policy toward child abuse is zero tolerance. "We are all about forgiving," he said, "but when it comes to our children, we're pretty hard-nosed around here."

Trend in prominent churches
Church by the Glades joins a number of high-profile Southern Baptist churches to be marred by sex scandals in recent years. In 2008-2009 the SBC Executive Committee studied the feasibility of establishing an independent review board to receive and review complaints of clergy sexual abuse.

In the end convention leaders recommended against such a body, saying that Baptist church governance does not allow the denomination to intervene in affairs of a local congregation.

Christa Brown, Baptist outreach director for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), called it a "do-nothing" approach that leaves Southern Baptist churches vulnerable to sexual predators.

In addition to preaching the annual sermon at this year's Florida Baptist Convention, Hughes was elected president-elect of the state convention's annual pastors' conference, and will lead in planning the conference's program in 2011.

Lewis, the accused molester, is a native of New Mexico. He was reportedly hired by Church of the Glades about two years ago. In a staff profile since removed from the church website, he described his greatest passions as "leading God's worship and helping others."

Albright said the congregation and its leaders were "shocked and saddened" by news about alleged "impropriety and criminal action" by a member of the staff. "We are deeply sorry for the hurt and harm this has caused to the victim and families involved, as well as to others in our church family and nearby communtiy," he said.

Assistant Pastor at Mahwah church arrested for sex with local girl - 6 years ago

MAHWAH, N.J. - A 44-year-old assistant church Pastor and youth ministry volunteer was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and charged with sexual assault upon a minor. Curtis Franklin of Mahwah has been arrested on charges of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child.

The arrest came about as a result of an investigation conducted by members of the Mahwah Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Batelli, with the county Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit.

On December 1, law enforcement officers arrested Franklin after learning that he reportedly engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct on at least three occasions with a female under the age of sixteen at the time. The incidents allegedly occurred at a residence in the Township of Mahwah about six years ago.

The incidents went unreported until November 30, 2009.

Franklin reportedly met the victim while serving as a volunteer to the youth ministry at the Mahwah Full Gospel Church in Mahwah. Franklin is currently the assistant Pastor at the church.

Franklin was charged with one count of sexual assault (a 2nd degree crime), one count of criminal sexual contact (a 4th degree crime), and one count of endangering the welfare of a child (a 3rd degree crime).

Bail was set for Franklin by Judge Harry G. Carroll at $75,000.00 with no 10% option, no contact with the victim, and the surrender of his passport. Franklin was transported to the Mahwah Police Department for processing, and was scheduled to be arraigned this evening at 7:00 p.m.