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Former Calvary Temple deacon indicted on sexual abuse-related charges in Loudoun
Former Calvary Temple deacon indicted on sexual abuse-related charges in Loudoun
By Crystal Owens, Special to the Times-Mirror Aug 16, 2018 Updated 13 hrs ago
A 15-year investigation into allegations of systematic sexual, mental and physical abuse at the hands of a Sterling church’s leadership has led to the indictment of one of its deacons.
A Loudoun County grand jury on Monday indicted Kevin R. O’Connor, 62, a deacon at Calvary Temple Church, on seven sexual assault-related charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual battery by force, threat or intimidation on a victim 13 or 14 years old and one count of forcible sodomy. The charges are related to alleged incidents between April 1, 2003, and May 3, 2003, according to the Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney’s office. ... O’Connor is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The LCSO began to investigate allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of the Pentecostal church’s leadership in 2003 after Chassidi Thompson, who was 14 at the time, said she was sexually assaulted by one of the church’s deacons. ... The report was filed with a sergeant at the sheriff’s office – also a member of Calvary – who was not re-sworn as a deputy when Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman (R) won a second term in office in November 2015. The case did not move forward in 2003 due to lack of evidence, according to authorities.
The case was reopened in 2012, according to LCSO spokesman Kraig Troxell, but it gained widespread attention in March 2015 as the Times-Mirror began reporting on the allegations, which included a second woman who said she was raped and sexually assaulted by several members of the church. Since then, dozens more ex-congregants have come forward, alleging similar incidents.
....
This is a developing story. Check back at LoudounTimes.com for more information as it becomes available.
By Crystal Owens, Special to the Times-Mirror Aug 16, 2018 Updated 13 hrs ago
A 15-year investigation into allegations of systematic sexual, mental and physical abuse at the hands of a Sterling church’s leadership has led to the indictment of one of its deacons.
A Loudoun County grand jury on Monday indicted Kevin R. O’Connor, 62, a deacon at Calvary Temple Church, on seven sexual assault-related charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual battery by force, threat or intimidation on a victim 13 or 14 years old and one count of forcible sodomy. The charges are related to alleged incidents between April 1, 2003, and May 3, 2003, according to the Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney’s office. ... O’Connor is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The LCSO began to investigate allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of the Pentecostal church’s leadership in 2003 after Chassidi Thompson, who was 14 at the time, said she was sexually assaulted by one of the church’s deacons. ... The report was filed with a sergeant at the sheriff’s office – also a member of Calvary – who was not re-sworn as a deputy when Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman (R) won a second term in office in November 2015. The case did not move forward in 2003 due to lack of evidence, according to authorities.
The case was reopened in 2012, according to LCSO spokesman Kraig Troxell, but it gained widespread attention in March 2015 as the Times-Mirror began reporting on the allegations, which included a second woman who said she was raped and sexually assaulted by several members of the church. Since then, dozens more ex-congregants have come forward, alleging similar incidents.
....
This is a developing story. Check back at LoudounTimes.com for more information as it becomes available.