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Young Adults and Adolescents

At Risk of Sexual Abuse by Clergy

Young adults and adolescents of either gender are at risk from sexual exploitation by clergy.  Some young adult victims were in the midst of seminary training to become ministers themselves when the alleged abuse occurred.

One survivor's story of abuse is recounted in her book, This Little Light: Beyond a Baptist Preacher Predator and His Gang, recently reviewed by William Thornton in BaptistLife.com (September 7, 2009).

What you get is: a lot of people wishing you would go away, a lot of people just ignoring you . . . You get called a liar . . . You learn that there is BGCT [Baptist General Convention of Texas] money to help abusers return to ministry but none for victims.

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Cases of alleged abuse

Several cases have been decided by the courts, with sentences ranging from 90 days to several years in prison. State laws vary in how the the age of consent is defined. For a summary of current state legal definitions of the age of consent, see:

US Department of Health and Human Services. Statutory Rape: A Guide to State Laws and Reporting Requirements.

Evans Justice Bacon

• Stephen Thompson. "Pastor of St. Pete church charged with molesting teenage girl." Tampa Bay Online (April 14, 2009).

  A longtime St. Petersburg pastor was arrested Monday on charges he repeatedly molested a 15-year-old girl on church property and then sexually assaulted her after she turned 17.

John Bennison

• Dan Noyes. "Priest can't escape history of sexual misconduct." ABC7News (May 25, 2006).

  …an Episcopal priest who had sex with members of his own flock and at least one young girl, while he was married…

Don Bodnar

• Richard Liebrecht. "Ukrainian priest charged with sex offences." Edmonton Sun (March 6, 2009).

• "Priest facing sex charges suspended." Edmonton Journal (March 6, 2009).

  Rev. Danylo Bodnar was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference earlier this year, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton said in a release. "The allegations were in no way connected to his priestly ministry, but rather to a personal relationship …"

Lawrence F. X. Brett

• "Priests cited in sexual-abuse claims." Connecticut Post (December 1, 2009).

  College student goes to urologist because Brett, while performing oral sex on the teen, bit the young man's penis, causing wound.

William Frank Brown

• Tommy Witherspoon. "Bellmead pastor sentenced to 50 years for sexually assaulting young church member." Waco Tribune-Herald (November 3, 2009).

  … sentenced to 50 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young church member who considered him her ‘spiritual mentor.’

• Patrick Tolbert and Henry Rosoff. "Pastor accused of molesting girls forgiven by victims: Brown resigned his post as the pastor of First Baptist Church Bellmead as the investigation got underway." KXXV-TV News Channel 25 (November 2, 2009).

  Lead prosecutor Beth Toben said the plea deal was best for the community and for the two victims and their family.

Jose Campoverde

• "Anaheim pastor arrested on molestation charges." Los Angeles Times (September 28, 2009).

  An Orange County pastor accused of molesting several underage girls is in custody and Anaheim police are asking other potential victims to come forward, authorities said today.

Anthony Cappuccio

• Karen Ariaza. "Outrageous sentence for crimes against teens." NBC Philadelphia.com (March 13, 2009).

  Cappuccio got sentenced to house arrest. Maybe as little as three months.

Jacob Conder

• Ben Garbarek. "Youth leader jailed on sex abuse charges." 14WFIE.com (August 25, 2009).

Adrian Cook

• Steve Myers. "Woman says she was abused by Catholic priest in 1970s: The Rev. Adrian Cook, however, says incidents were consensual." The Mobile Register (April 2, 2003).

  Cook, 57, now serves as pastor of St. Maurice Catholic Church in Brewton . . . he acknowledged that he had sex with Weiss, but said it was consensual. He also confirmed that he had fathered a child with another woman.

Paul J. Cool

• Josh O'Gorman. "Missouri man to face Vermont sex charges." Rutland Herald (November 25, 2009).

  The charges allege Cool repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman between 2006 and 2007, when she was between 18 years old and 19 years old.

Jason Cooper (J.D. Cooper)

• "2 Baptist ministers convicted in sex case." The Advertiser (August 22, 2009).

   . . .the two men molested a 16-year-old while driving back from a church event . . . Later in May, Richland Parish sheriff's investigators said a second victim came forward . . .

Antonio Cortes

• "Parishioners show faith in accused priest." The Monterey County Herald (July 31, 2009).

• Zachary Stahl. "Judgment Day: Salinas priest accused of child molestation will be back in court May 1." Monterey County Weekly (April 30, 2009).

• "Child porn charges added in priest sex case: Priest accused of unlawful sexual behavior." KSBW.com (April 23, 2009).

J. Peter Crynes

• Dave Janoski. "Monsignor admits sex with teens: Bishop sends letter to parishioners of St. Therese's saying their former priest admitted to "unchaste behavior" with high school girls." Times Leader (August 27, 2006). Article available on AbuseTracker August 2006 archive.

Shawn Davies

• Jim Avila, Bonnie Van Gilder and Matt Lopez. "Preachers accused of sins, and crimes: ABC News investigation uncovers predators in protestant churches." ABC News 20/20 (April 13, 2007).

  Davies seduced teenage boys by acting like one of the gang. He talked about girls and sex with the teenagers.

Christopher Scott Decaire

• Kim Smith. "Former minister found guilty of molesting girl: She says abuse was weekly; 50+ years in prison possible." Arizona Daily Star (August 20, 2009).

  "Something happened pretty much every Wednesday," the girl testified, referring to the night that the youth group met.

Marcial Maciel Degollado

• Michael Paulson. "Another scandal for Legion founder Maciel." The Boston Globe (February 3, 2009).

   . . . the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who before he died last year had been barred from public ministry over allegations of sexually abusing young men, is now being accused of having fathered at least one child . . .

• Bruce Nolan. "Catholic group Regnum Christi rocked by sex scandal." Times Picayune (February 22, 2009).

  [Jason Berry and Gerald Renner's] 2004 book, Vows of Silence  . . . marshaled on-the-record interviews with nine former legion seminarians who said they had been sexually abused as youths by Maciel . . . [now] Legion leaders said they learned Maciel had a daughter in her 20s.

Joseph DeShan

• "Priests cited in sexual-abuse claims." Connecticut Post (December 1, 2009).

  Initiated a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl while he was assigned to St. Augustine's Cathedral … Girl becomes pregnant and DeShan leaves priesthood.

Raoul Deveau

• Alison Auld. "Woman alleges decade of abuse by N.S. priest: Says she endured years of sexual assaults, files suit against diocese." The Globe and Mail (January 5, 2010).

  John McKiggan, Ms. Deschamp's lawyer, said Tuesday that the now middle-aged woman then moved in with the priest to help her impoverished, devout parents and was instructed to call him uncle.

Jason William Dubwig

• James L. White. "Pastor going to prison." Harrison Daily Times (May 19, 2009).

  " . . . accused of having intercourse with a 17-year-old girl, who court documents identify as his adopted daughter."

Jack Duffer

• Katie Collett. "Former youth pastor arrested again." WAVY.com (August 24, 2009).

  Duffer was arrested Friday after a second teenager in two weeks came forward saying the former youth pastor had sexual contact with her . . 

Kenneth Duncalfe

• Gerry Bellett. "Mennonite abuse survivor speaks out against church." Vancouver Sun (March 20, 2009).

  His behaviour had first been reported to the church's minister 19 years ago . . . Pastor Bev Toews of the Abbotsford Mennonite Church of God in Christ . . . "didn't think laying charges against [Duncalfe] was the way to go."  . . . [Judge] Lenaghan was clearly disturbed by what he had heard regarding the church's response to Duncalfe's confession, "which occurred in 1990 when he admitted his sexual involvement with his daughter to members of his church."

Timothy C. Edmonds

• Cheryl Caswell. "Former youth pastor gets 10 to 20 years for sexual abuse of girl." The Daily Mail (April 16, 2009).

  A former church youth pastor was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in the penitentiary for sexually abusing a young girl . . .

Andrew Max Eggman Jr.

• Pete DeLea. "Former Mennonite missionary enters Alford Plea in sex case." Daily News Record (March 11, 2009).

• Pete DeLea. "Eggman avoids Calif. offenders list: Local prosecutors pursue change in status for convicted sex taper." Daily News Record (July 2, 2009).

  A former Mennonite missionary who pleaded guilty to secretly videotaping teenage relatives having sex with students at Eastern Mennonite University has been excluded from California's sex offender registry.

Timothy Joseph Evans

• Monte Whaley. "Ex-priest guilty of sex assault." Denver Post (March 3, 2007).

  Jurors said Monday that they didn't buy the claims of a former Fort Collins priest that his manhandling and caressing of a 17-year-old boy was an innocent expression of his love . . . the panel convicted 43-year-old Timothy Joseph Evans of three counts of sexual assault of a child by a person in a position of trust.

Curtis Franklin

• William Lamb. "Mahwah assistant pastor charged in sex assault." North Jersey (December 1, 2009).

James Patrick Grady

• Robert Patrick. "Catholic priest busted in sex sting in St. Louis County." St. Louis Post-Dispatch (July 31, 2009).

  James Patrick Grady, 57, Pastor of St. Raphael The Archangel, showed up at a St. Louis County home Wednesday, offering to pay money to have sex with a 16-year-old girl, documents allege.

Wallace A. Harris

• Paul Vitello. "Pastor steps forward with new claim of past sexual abuse by Harlem monsignor." New York Times (August 15, 2008).

Dieugrand Jacques

• Eric Glasser. "Boynton Beach Pastor arrested for sexual battery." WPTV (January 8, 2010).

  The case dates back to May of 2007 when the alleged victim would have been just 15 years old. … investigators ... questioned other women in the church … another said something similar had happened to her.

Stephen E. Jeselnick

• Pat Bywater. "Former local man recounts life-altering events with parish priest that sent him into downward spiral." The Meadville Tribune (February 11, 2008).

  Diocese of Erie statement on the case: The allegation . . . concerns Kevin McParland, who at the time was an adult, and not a minor. Thus, this matter does not fall within the bishop's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. See also online reader comments.

Dave Johnson, Franciscan friar

• Nick Welsh. "Moral dumping ground: New sex abuse claims filed against Franciscans." The Independent (November 25, 2009).

  Craig Clover and Ernesto C. would add two more to the list of 62 minors molested by Franciscan friars in Santa Barbara since 1960.

Steven Bruce Joplin

• "Staunton youth pastor case moves forward: The case against a former youth pastor accused of fondling young girls is on its way to a grand jury." WSHV.com (October 6, 2009).

  A few days later Joplin was charged again after four more victims came forward.

Kenneth Kaucheck

• Cecil Ange. "No charges for Oakland priest accused of sex with girl." Free Press (April 28, 2009).

   . . . forced resignation over allegations of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old girl . . . a Clawson detective spoke with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and was told there would be no charges filed . . . because the teen was of legal consent in 1976 when the alleged sexual relationship took place.

Frederick Kelley

• Steve Visser. "Pastor faces prison for molesting foster child: Jury returns guilty verdict against Bishop Frederick Kelley of Decatur on charges of aggravated sexual battery and molestation. " The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (February 25, 2008).

  A Decatur pastor faces at least 25 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated sexual battery and child molestation of his 15-year-old foster child, authorities said.

James G. Kiffmeyer

• Richelle Thompson. "Elder teacher's abuse case not disclosed to school." The Cincinnati Enquirer (May 4, 2002).

  Kiffmeyer has denied that allegation as well as the 1997 complaint that was settled . . . Like the other allegation, the settlement involved an 18-year-old who alleged the priest had "attempted sexual intimacy" . . . Because the accuser was not a child, the archdiocese didn't feel it had to report the complaint to law enforcement . . .

Martin Klassen

• Eddie Chau. "Woman allegedly silenced by Mennonite church: Virgil native claims sexual abuse at hands of father." Niagara This Week (December 26, 2008).

  "I felt betrayed by my church," Klassen told the Crier via phone from an undisclosed location. "I had gone to my pastor (when the abuse took place) and he told me he was aware of it. He told me to forgive my father and family for what happened."

• "Sex assault victim claims "Mennonite coverup": Virgil woman says church scared her into silence." The Standard (December 17, 2008).

  Klassen said she was also told to never go to the police about the matter . . . She said her father's pastor, who was based at what is now called the Cornerstone Community Church in Virgil, told her to forgive her father, her family, and the faith leaders who didn't come to her assistance.

Mike Landy

• R. J. Cooper. "Former OATS director sentenced." St. Joe News (January 6, 2010).

  The victim was 13 and the defendant 43 when the relationship started, and Mr. Landy met her while working with the youth program at the New Life Bible Church.

John Thomas Mathew Lee

• Dan Ephron. "Questionable conduct: Chaplains, sexual abuse and what the military knows." Newsweek (December 24, 2007).

  … the 20-year-old cadet started counseling with a military chaplain, Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Thomas Mathew Lee …

Russell Lesser

• Leigh Mills. "A local woman brings her sexual predator to justice 35 years after the crimes were committed." NBC 15 (November 10, 2009).

  … a Christian camp, and that's where he started to groom me … Lesser pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Russell Dion Lewis

• Bob Allen. "Abuse charge against worship leader rocks prominent Fla. church." Associated Baptist Press (December 1, 2009).

  While authorities say the acts were consensual, in Florida a 14-year-old cannot legally consent to sex.

Fernando Lugo

• "The Sins of Father Clean-Up: Paraguay is reeling from the news that its moral-crusader president had a teenage mistress while still a bishop." The Sunday Times (April 19, 2009).

Jody Lusk

• O.J. Stapleton. "Pastor charged with rape repents." News-Leader and Democrat (October 2009).

  Lusk, who admits to a six-month affair with the young teenager, said he will not fight the charge of second-degree rape.

Luis A. Bonilla Margarito

• Kathy Lauer-Williams. "Priest removed from duties after admitting affair: Had inappropriate relationship with 18-year-old. He previously served in Emmaus, Orefield." The Morning Call (November 16, 2009).

James J. McCoy

• James Craven. "Victim recounts clergy abuse in Southington." New Britain Herald (January 15, 2009).

  McCoy admitted to inappropriate behavior but denied having done anything more than kissing and fondling. According to a police statement given by Townsley, McCoy suggested that the fault was with Maxfield … McCoy was convicted on two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. He was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended after 60 days with probation for three years.

Stephen Miller

• Derek Alexander. "Priest is suspended from parish following police investigation." Sunday Mail (March 22, 2009).

Victor Mitchell

• "2 Baptist ministers convicted in sex case." The Advertiser (August 22, 2009).

   . . .the two men molested a 16-year-old while driving back from a church event . . . Later in May, Richland Parish sheriff's investigators said a second victim came forward . . .

Jon Moore

• Dennis Huspeni. "Ex-pastor to spend holidays in jail." The Gazette (Colorado Springs) (December 15, 2008).

  A former pastor convicted of molesting a teen-age girl will spend Christmas in jail . . . Moore admitted he repeatedly assaulted a then 15-year-old female parishioner, including after Sunday services in the church basement, starting in 2004. See also online reader comments.

Chester Mulligan

• "Former East Chicago pastor faces sex charges." Indianapolis Star (December 30, 2003). Article available on the Poynter Center AbuseTracker website archive.

  Authorities allege that Chester Mulligan, 58, now of Fort Sill, Okla., first had sexual intercourse with the girl, then 14, in July 1997.

Brian Neiswender

• Sheena Delazio. "Ex-youth pastor gets 8-16 months: Brian Neiswender pleaded no contest to charges he inappropriately touched as many as 10 girls while on the staff for a church in Kingston." Times Leader (July 21, 2009).

Patrick L. Nicholson

• Steve Myers and Kristen Campbell. "Woman pursues report on former Mobile priest: Susan Archibald accuses the Rev. Patrick L. Nicholson of seducing her into an exploitative sexual relationship." Mobile Register (February 15, 2003). Available on the AbuseTracker website archive.

  At the time, he was a 37-year-old captain, ordained in his native Ireland, and she was an 18-year-old cadet from rural Wisconsin.

Joshua O'Bannion

• Danielle Frizzi. "Parma Pastor admits to sex with teen." Fox8.com (September 30, 2009).

  When word got out that O'Bannion had been arrested, Parma police received calls from two victims in Parma … Parma police believe there are more victims. Anyone with information should contact the crime tip line at (440) 887-7340.

Patrick O'Connor

• Michael O'Malley. "Former Cleveland Catholic Diocese priest begins jail sentence for sexual offense." Metro-Cleveland.com (January 5, 2010).

  A former priest of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese reported Monday to Lorain County Jail where he began a 90-day sentence for having sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy in 1997.

Freddie L. Parker

• "Adams County pastor freed on bond after being charged with statutory rape." WREG News Channel 3 (Memphis) (March 24, 2009).

  Authorities say a pastor in Adams County has been charged with statutory rape after DNA evidence showed he was the father of a baby born to a 14-year-old girl . . . the Rev. Freddie L. Parker, pastor of the True Bibleway Church, was arrested Monday.

Gregory Patejko

• Stephen J. Lee. "A crime of silence." Grand Forks Herald (May 6, 2009).

  Vicar General, Monsignor Wendelyn Vetter, came to [the alleged victim's] home and got him to sign a document releasing the Fargo diocese from any claims . . .

Daniel Pedroza

• Nathan Wright and Lacey Nadeau. "Youth pastor accused of sexual relationship with teen." San Clemente Times (December 18, 2008).

  Pedroza is accused of six felony counts, including three counts of unlawful sex with a minor. See also online reader comments.

• Chris Caesar. "Youth pastor accused of sexual relationship with teen: Daniel Pedroza, of San Clemente, faces 6 felony counts." The Orange County Register (December 18, 2008).

  Amormino said investigators think there may be additional victims, and urged anyone with more information to contact the Sheriff's Department at 714-628-7170. See also online reader comments.

John Picard

• Mark Caudill. "Ex-youth pastor gets 40 years." Mansfield News Journal (September 4, 2009).

  [Picard] wielded control over some of the victims from their teens to adulthood, in some cases even after marriage.

Charles Plock

• Erica Pearson, Kerry Burke and Alison Gendar. "St. John's University priest accused of sending homemade smut to teen." New York Daily News (October 20, 2008).

  When NYPD investigators showed up at the cleric's on-campus apartment in Murray Hall yesterday, Plock argued that he sent his X-rated videos only to consenting adults, a law enforcement source said.

John Powell

• Peter Sachs. "Former Loyola professor charged in sex abuse case." Chi Town Daily News (December 10, 2008).

  A Florida woman has become the most recent person to claim she was sexually abused by a Jesuit priest who used to teach at Loyola University Chicago, and that the Jesuit order covered up the incident and others like it.  .  .  Powell, 83 and now retired, was named in two previous sex abuse lawsuits, one of which was settled out of court in 2005.

Joseph Kennedy Ragland

• "Preacher accused of rape." Daily Record (May 4, 2009).

  The 47 year-old minister is accused of raping a 16-year-old girl who is a member of his church . . .

Luis Eduardo Ramirez

• Rachanee Srisavasdi. "Priest who tried to grope boy won't serve ministry." The Orange County Register (April 7, 2009).

  Rev. Luis Eduardo Ramirez, who used to be assigned to Our Lady of the Pillar parish in Santa Ana, pleaded guilty in June to taking a 17-year-old boy to a motel room and trying to touch him.

Larry Reynolds

• Bob Allen. "Bellevue pastor staying, Texas pastor leaving, over clergy sex-abuse scandals." Ethics Daily (December 22, 2006).

  On Nov. 19, as a condition of the settlement agreement, Reynolds read a statement to the church saying: "Twenty years ago, I made a terrible mistake. I realize now that my lapse in judgment caused one of our parishioners great harm."

• Bob Allen. "Pastor reportedly settles lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of minor." Ethics Daily (November 20, 2006).

  … settlement in principle was reached in a lawsuit filed June 8 against Larry Reynolds, pastor of Southmont Baptist Church in Denton, Texas, alleging years ago he had sexual relations with a girl that began when she was 14 and continued for seven years.

Martin Richter

• Pastor arrested on molestation charges." Highland News (February 4, 2010).

  Investigators are concerned that there may be other victims and are asking for any information from the public concerning Richter's connection with other children. Call Detective Craig Harris or Deputy Laura Marks at (909) 866-0100.

Martin P. Ryan

• Daniel Tepfer. "Bishop Lori admits to keeping in ministry a priest credibly accused of abuse." Connecticut Post (November 17, 2003).

  Ryan, pastor of St. Edward the Confessor parish in New Fairfield, has been accused of molesting the girl in the 1970s when she was a member of the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Theresa's Church in Trumbull . . . She said diocesan officials told her Ryan was having "issues with celibacy."

• Alison Leigh Cowan. "New clergy abuse settlement is announced in Bridgeport." New York Times (October 17, 2003).

  Of the 16 priests named in Thursday's settlement . . . only one, Msgr. Martin P. Ryan, is still active . . . Bishop Lori said he stood by the decision to allow Monsignor Ryan to continue working. "He's not a predator . . . He's not at all a threat to young people."

Thomas Seifner

• Nate Birt. "Statement: Former Pilot Grove priest on leave amid investigation." Boonville Daily News (January 8, 2010).

  … pending investigation of an "allegation of inappropriate electronic communication with a minor" five years ago, a news release from the Diocese of Jefferson City states.

Richard Frank Shaw

• Jeff Allen. "Man pleads guilty after alleged sex with girl: A church van driver and former school employee pleads guilty after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17 year old girl." WKYT.com (July 28, 2009).

  "I believe he preyed on this girl's love for God and Christianity . . ." says (Bell County Attorney) Ward.

Lakwinder Singh

• Adrian Nieoczym. "Charged Sikh priest's arraignment delayed." Kelowna Capital News (April 4, 2009).

  He is charged with sexual exploitation, sexual interference and two counts of sexual assault involving a 15-year-old girl.

Joshua Spires

• Bob Allen. "Former Okla. pastor sentenced to 10 years for molestation."Associated Baptist Press (October 26, 2009).

  A former Southern Baptist pastor in Oklahoma has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after confessing to sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl who attended his church.

• Sheila K. Stogsdill. "Delaware County pastor assaulted girl, 15, on his church desk, affidavit says." NewsOK (August 26, 2009).

Paul St. Charles

• Lawrence Buser. "Priest named in abuse cases dies at 70: St. Charles led youth groups; denied claims." The Commercial Appeal (December 29, 2009).

  A priest who was a leader of Memphis Catholic youth groups in the 1970s and later was named in multiple lawsuits alleging sexual abuse died Sunday in Nashville.

St Stanislaus College (seminary), Bathurst

• "Church dismissed complaints over Bathurst priest." CathNews (September 08, 2008).

Philip Taban

• "Visiting priest charged with sexual assault." KVIA.com (September 13, 2007).

  The investigation revealed an 18-year old Hispanic female met with Taban for spiritual counseling. During two of these meetings, Taban sexually assaulted the victim . . . Taban is being held in the El Paso County Jail on a $25,000 bond for each count.

Dean Richard Tarkington

• Robin Pyle. "Preacher charged with sending sex video to minor." Lubbock Online (January 6, 2010).

  A Lubbock pastor was arrested last week on federal charges after authorities say he sent a lewd sexual video of himself to a 16-year-old girl in Louisiana.

Ronald Hernandez Tovar

• "Pastor faces more charges in relationship with teen: Placentia man accused of continuing to see 16-year-old girl in violation of court order." The Orange County Register (November 10, 2007).

Dale Tucker

• Rebecca S. Green. "Ex-church leader gets 10 years in teen abuse." The Journal Gazette (January 12, 2010).

  Dale K. Tucker, 57, pleaded guilty in November in Allen Superior Court to sexual misconduct with a minor, admitting to giving a boy alcohol and performing sex acts on him.

Jordan Clint Vernon

• Sara Leaming. "Another alleged victim comes forward in Post Falls sex abuse case." The Spokesman-Review (January 6, 2010).

  Vernon was arrested Dec. 28, accused of having sex with at least two girls, ages 14 and 17, and having inappropriate contact with at least two others, ages 12 and 14, from 2007 to 2009.

  Anyone with information about alleged cases of inappropriate conduct involving Jordan Vernon, a former member of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, should contact Detective Sgt. Dave Beck at (208) 773-6341.

Chet Warren

• Bill Frogameni. "Toledo native Barbara Blaine crusades against sexual abuse in the Catholic church." Toledo City Paper (April 29, 2004).  Article available on BishopAccountability's Documentary History of the Crisis website.

  Blaine was 29 when she told her family in 1985 about her abuse … Soon after, the family brought Barbara's allegations to the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales, Father Warren's religious order … Warren stayed in ministry until put on leave in September 1992, shortly before Blaine's story was mentioned on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Gregory Washington

• Becky Nahm and Michelle Knoll. "Minneapolis church director pleads to sex with teen." KSTP.com (September 15, 2009).

  Washington was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old girl at Zion Baptist Church . . . He admits getting her pregnant . . . Monday's guilty plea involves the most recent incident and another count for a third relationship with a girl he had back in 1997.

Robert Weber

• "Youth pastor indicted on felony charges." NewsWest9 (January 5, 2010).

  44-year-old Robert Weber is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl he counseled at Second Baptist Church of Odessa.

Dwayne Wilson

• Ryan Poe. "Music minister charged with rape of girl, 16: Pastor cites forgiveness, lets accused remain in his job." The Commercial Appeal (November 29, 2009).

  The music minister of a local Church of God in Christ congregation remains in his post after being charged with statutory rape involving a 16-year-old choir member.

Scott Dewayne Wright

• Camille C. Spencer. "Former youth pastor seduced teen, Pasco petition says." St. Petersburg Times (April 1, 2009).

Minister not named

• Rick Stillion. "Woman says she was sexually assaulted by priest." The Daily Jeffersonian (December 31, 2008).

  A Cambridge woman is reportedly alleging she was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest in the 1980s while she was a 15-year-old high school student . . . the priest's attorney threatened to file a lawsuit against Mercer if she spoke publicly for the first time about the alleged crimes. See also online reader comments.