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Child molesting case resurfaces, could cost church millions
daily press ^ | 04.03.08 | RYAN ORR

Posted on 07/07/2008 11:08:59 AM PDT by Coleus

A lawsuit filed this week alleges that the head pastor at a local church knew about child molestation taking place and did nothing, a mistake that could end up costing millions.

Roy Long was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Hesperia when he first began to molest two six-year-old sisters in 1996. The girls, scared and embarrassed, did not tell their mother about the abuse until they were 17 and living in New Mexico.

Now 88, the former deacon pleaded guilty in January to sexual intercourse with a minor and molesting children under 18.

The charges are in connection with molesting the two sisters over a four-year period from 1996 to 2000. Long was arrested in November and sentenced to time served and four years probation, in part due to his age. Now, a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles based law firm, Taylor and Ring, is not only suing Long for damages, but the church itself, alleging that head pastor Wayne Stockstill knew about the abuse and did nothing.

According to the complaint, a female adult member of the church witnessed Long fondling one of the plaintiffs while riding on a wagon hay-ride on church grounds at its “Fall Festival.” “The witness observed Long holding the girl on his lap and rubbing her chest and her groin area,” according to the complaint. “The plaintiff squirmed to be free from Long, but Long continued to keep her on his lap and fondle her.”

The witness went directly to Wayne Stockstill and informed him of what she had seen to which he replied, “Don’t worry. I will handle this,” states the complaint. When Long was arrested in 2007, the witness — shocked that the situation had not been taken care of — communicated in writing with Stockstill and confronted him about his failing to do anything when she first reported the abuse she had seen.

“Pastor Stockstill responded to the witness in writing and admitted that he ‘made an egregious mistake’ back in 1996 with his handling of the situation,” states the complaint. He went on to write that he “erred on the side of grace,” choosing not to believe the witness, the complaint alleges. “I think that for legal reasons, I best just not make a statement at all” Stockstill said when informed of the lawsuit.

The victims’ attorney, David Ring, said that the girls have had a rough go of it since they were abused and one sister has even attempted suicide. Both asked not to be named and are now 18 and living out of state. “They have both had real problems in their teenage years struggling with the abuse,” said Ring. “These cases routinely get resolved for millions of dollars because these girls’ lives are basically ruined,” Ring said.

He did not specify an amount that he is seeking, but emphasized the emotional distress that the girls have gone through. Long is now a registered sex offender and according to the Megan’s Law Web site is still living in Victorville.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: California
KEYWORDS: baptist; pastor
http://www.fbch.org/

1 posted on 07/07/2008 11:08:59 AM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus

This kind of crap has done more to drive families away from churches than anything since the advent of the “if it feels good, do it” culture, IMO.


2 posted on 07/07/2008 11:11:35 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Black dogs and bacon bombs.)
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To: Rebelbase

I thought only Catholic priests molest children. (Scarsam on). It is so horrid with people of the cloth (no matter what denomination) breach the trust of their flock by perpetrating these dispicable acts.


3 posted on 07/07/2008 12:35:23 PM PDT by LottieDah (Democrats and liberals never fail to disappoint.)
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To: Rebelbase
I think that you are really making a stretch here saying that this type of thing is typical and driving people away from church. There is no more of this that goes on in church that any other group of people, church or non-church. Churches have people in them. So do schools, banks, post offices etc. Guess what? Rotary Club members have even been charged with this kind of horrible crime. People that do these horrid things are from all kinds of backgrounds so to single out churches and say that "this has done more to drive families away from churches" is not intellectually honest. So a baseball coach abuses his young player(s). Then, "all baseball coaches are bad and that is why Little League is on the downturn".

The impression might be there because the Media loves this kind of publicity because it fits their atheistic agenda and they will really play it up. (Similar to how they report on Iraq). I don't mean to dump on you here, but I am so tired of people putting down the church. (/rant) (/down off soapbox)
4 posted on 07/07/2008 2:31:58 PM PDT by Jerry Attrick
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