Chicago pastor charged with bilking federal program to feed needy kids, spending $142,000 on a Bentley for himself - Chicago Tribune

Smith, who has led the New Life Impact Church in the Lawndale neighborhood for years, has been indicted on charges alleging he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a federal program intended to feed needy children, spending the money on a $142,000 Bentley luxury vehicle and other personal expenses.

It’s not the first time that Smith, 45, has been accused of financial malfeasance. Nearly a decade ago, he pleaded guilty in DuPage County to using forged signatures to swindle an elderly man’s estate out of more than $100,000, court records show.
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The indictment against Smith alleged he defrauded the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program that is administered locally by the Illinois State Board of Education and intended to provide meals for children in impoverished neighborhoods.

Chicago pastor charged with bilking federal program to feed needy kids, spending $142,000 on a Bentley for himself - Chicago Tribune

Champaign pastor charged with sex assault of teen | News | news-gazette.com

A former assistant pastor at a Champaign church has been criminally charged with sexually assaulting a teen who was a member of the congregation.

Roger VanRaden, 48, who listed an address on County Road 2900 N in rural Rantoul, was arraigned Monday on charges of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse for alleged contact he had with a girl from about 2015 to August 2019.
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VanRaden was employed as an assistant pastor and youth pastor at Faith Baptist Church, 4601 N. Market St., C, according to Champaign County sheriff’s Lt. Curt Apperson.

Apperson said the alleged victim, now 18, told a trusted adult that she and VanRaden had been engaging in various sex acts for about four years. That adult arranged for her to meet with her family then make the report to the sheriff’s office.


Champaign pastor charged with sex assault of teen | News | news-gazette.com:

Police: Elgin pastor who assaulted teen asked if she 'liked liked him'

An Elgin pastor sexually assaulted and abused a teenage girl while giving her a ride home from a church event in November 2018, according to a police affidavit used to obtain a search warrant.

The attack happened some three months after Elizandro Montoya-Salazar, 46, of 0-99 block of North Lord Avenue, Carpentersville, asked the girl if she "liked liked him," according to the affidavit. Montoya-Salazar was charged recently with criminal sexual assault of a victim 13 to 17 years old and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a person in a position of trust and authority, all felonies.

Police: Elgin pastor who assaulted teen asked if she 'liked liked him'

Elgin pastor arrested, accused of sexual abuse of minor | WGN-TV

Elizandro Salazar-Montoya, 46, of Carpentersville, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault.

Authorities believe he knew the victim, who was younger than 18, and held a position and trust and authority over the victim.

At the time, authorities said Salazar-Montoya served as a pastor at Iglesia Apostólica de Elgin (IAFCJ) church in the 37 block of Hopps Road. Prosectors said the abuse took place between Nov. 1 and Dec. 1 of last year.

Elgin pastor arrested, accused of sexual abuse of minor | WGN-TV

Kindergarten teacher at suburban Baptist school charged with sexual assault, child porn solicitation involving 2 students, police say - Chicago Tribune

A kindergarten teacher at a private religious school in suburban Burbank has been charged with sexual assault and solicitation of child pornography stemming from alleged encounters with two underage students, the Cook County sheriff’s office announced Tuesday.

Shannon Griffin, 49, of Oak Lawn, a teacher at Jordan Baptist School, was taken into custody Monday after a monthslong investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege that Griffin “engaged in sexual conduct” with a male underage student who was enrolled at the school, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Griffin is also charged with sending nude pictures and videos of herself to that minor and another juvenile at the school, both males, and asking the minors to send her images, according to the sheriff’s office.

Kindergarten teacher at suburban Baptist school charged with sexual assault, child porn solicitation involving 2 students, police say - Chicago Tribune

UPDATED::Former youth pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Aurora charged with sexual exploitation of child - Chicago Tribune

UPDATE::  Judge to let 1 'uncharged victim' testify at Harvest pastor's sexual-exploitation trial 

One "uncharged victim" will be allowed to testify about texts and Snapchat messages prosecutors say he received from a Sugar Grove man who is accused of sexually exploiting another teenager.

But Kane County Circuit Judge Michael Noland denied a request Friday to let another uncharged victim testify against Paxton Singer, 24, a former youth minister at Harvest Bible Chapel.

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Singer is charged with sexual exploitation of a child by asking a boy, at least 13 years old but younger than 17, via text messages, to send him pictures of himself shirtless, to spend a weekend with Singer, and about the boy's sexual habits, for Singer's sexual arousal or gratification, according to court documents.

Noland ruled Friday that the texts to another boy, then 16, asking him to send pictures of himself in his underwear, were similar enough to those sent to the victim in the court case that his testimony could be relevant to showing Singer's intent.

But the second uncharged victim was 17 at the time he received texts from Singer, which, under the law, meant he was not a child, according to Noland. The judge also said Singer's requests to that teen -- to send pictures of himself shirtless showing his abdominal muscles and tan, and sexually oriented questions -- were not sufficiently similar.

A former youth pastor for Harvest Bible Chapel in Aurora has been charged with the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old boy on allegations he sought nude pictures of the boy and repeatedly asked to spend the weekend with him.

Paxton D. Singer, 24, of Sugar Grove, was taken into custody last week after a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to Kane County jail records.

Singer was charged with misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child and disorderly conduct, according to court records, which say he “knowingly enticed a person under 17 years of age to remove their clothing for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the defendant or the child,” asked the boy about his sexual habits and invited him to spend the weekend with him.

Singer is accused of sending the text messages between October 2016 and August 2017 after first meeting the teen when he attended an event at the church’s campus in Aurora, where Singer worked at the time, according to a news release from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Former youth pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Aurora charged with sexual exploitation of child - Chicago Tribune

Franklin County pastor, who was also a school administrator, arrested on grooming charge | Crime/Courts | thesouthern.com

A Franklin County pastor and former school administrator has been arrested on a grooming charge.

According to a news release from Franklin County Sheriff Dave Bartoni’s office, John J. Robinson, 55, of West Frankfort, was arrested on one count of grooming after a search warrant for his house and an arrest warrant for him were issued.
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Robinson was the principal at Thompsonville High School. Thompsonville Superintendent Brock Harris said he received Robinson's letter of resignation on Monday. With about four days left in the school year, Harris said he and the dean of students would be performing Robinson's duties until school lets out.

Franklin County pastor, who was also a school administrator, arrested on grooming charge | Crime/Courts | thesouthern.com

Pastor who offered tutoring in his home charged with felony sex crimes against 12-year-old twin girls - Chicago Tribune

A Chicago pastor who offered tutoring in his home has been charged with two felony counts related to inappropriate sexual contact with twin 12-year-old girls, police and court records show.

Chicago police on Sunday announced the arrest of a 51-year-old Chicago man on suspicion of two felony counts of inappropriately touching two children younger than 13, whom he was tutoring.

Jeffery Parks, of the 5200 block of South Blackstone Avenue in Hyde Park, appeared in court for a bond hearing Sunday. Chicago police said he is charged with one felony count of predatory criminal assault of a victim under 13 and one felony count of aggravated criminal abuse of a victim under 13.

Pastor who offered tutoring in his home charged with felony sex crimes against 12-year-old twin girls - Chicago Tribune

Megachurch founder James MacDonald allegedly sought murder for hire, police investigating - The Christian Post

Police in Illinois are currently investigating allegations that Harvest Bible Chapel founder James MacDonald sought to find a hitman to commit murder.

“A subject came in and filed a report and we are doing an investigation based on that report,” Wilmette Deputy Police Chief Pat Collins confirmed with The Christian Post Monday.

The allegations regarding MacDonald’s efforts to commit murder were first reported by independent journalist Julie Roys, who cited Chicago radio personality Mancow Muller and Emmanuel “Manny” Bucur, a deacon at HBC and former confidant and volunteer bodyguard of MacDonald’s, as the individuals making the claims.

Muller alleges that MacDonald asked him at least twice in 2018 if he knew a hitman he could hire. Initially, he thought that the HBC founder was joking but it became clear to him during a conversation in December that MacDonald was “really serious,” Roys reported.

Bucur alleged that about three years before that, in 2015, MacDonald asked him to kill his former son-in-law, Tony Groves, and offered to help dispose of the body. He argued that he did not report MacDonald because he was angry about his daughter allegedly being hurt, and chalked up the proposal as a momentary lapse in judgment.

Megachurch founder James MacDonald allegedly sought murder for hire, police investigating - The Christian Post

ADDENDUM::Independent report finds allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible - Religion News Service

The allegations of “sexually inappropriate words and actions” by Bill Hybels, the founder of Willow Creek Community Church, are credible, according to an independent group of Christian leaders advising the church.

Hybels’ alleged behavior, directed mostly at women connected to the Chicago-area megachurch, took place at various points during his more than four decades of leadership.

“The credibility of the allegations would have been sufficient for Willow Creek Community Church to initiate disciplinary action if Bill Hybels had continued as pastor of the church,” according to the report by the Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group.

The group’s report was posted online Thursday (Feb. 28) by Willow Creek Community Church and the Willow Creek Association.

Hybels stepped down from his roles with both the church and association early last year after allegations of misconduct surfaced against him. He has publicly and privately denied allegations of misconduct, according to the report.

Independent report finds allegations against Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels credible - Religion News Service

East Peoria youth pastor charged with sex crimes - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL

Jacob Lee Coyle, 36, remained in custody Tuesday, one day after $100,000 bond was set on charges of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

A Tazewell County prosecutor’s court affidavit stated Coyle, of Peoria, acknowledged committing the acts the affidavit described.

Coyle remained employed at Averyville Baptist Church as of Friday, when police interviewed and arrested him, the affidavit stated. The church’s pastor was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

East Peoria youth pastor charged with sex crimes - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL

UPDATED::#18::Breaking: Trans woman found murdered in Chicago alley - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive - Windy City Times

UPDATE::  Prosecutors: Teen had sexual relationship with trans woman he allegedly shot

A 17-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a transgender woman last year in a secluded area on the South Side was ordered held without bail Sunday.

Tremon T. Hill was charged with first-degree murder in the Aug. 13 slaying of Dejanay Stanton, a 24-year-old trans woman escort he was in a sexual relationship with, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Stanton received a text from Hill the morning of her killing asking her to meet him in a lot in the 4000 block of South Calumet Avenue in Bronzeville, Assistant State’s Attorney Britt Steinberg said at a bail hearing Sunday in the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

A 24-year-old transgender woman was murdered on Aug. 30 on Chicago's South Side, according to sources. Her body was discovered at the alley of 40th Street and King Drive late in the morning that day, after persons nearby said that they had heard gunshots.

The woman is still listed as a Jane Doe by Chicago Police department, but but she was identified at about 6 p.m. that day as Chicagoan Dejanay Stanton. According to Dawn Valenti, a crisis responder with Chicago Survivors, which assists family members and others impacted by violent loss, Stanton was legally recognized as female.

According to a Chicago Police Department spokesman, Stanton was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Area Central Detectives are investigating. The Aug. 30 police statement only identified Stanton as a female Jane Doe; her death was officially ruled a homicide after an autopsy Aug. 31, according to Chicago Sun-Times.

Breaking: Trans woman found murdered in Chicago alley - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive - Windy City Times

Former Crystal Lake church deacon called 'very faithful Christian' gets 5 years for sexual abuse of girl - Chicago Tribune

A former church deacon whom supporters described as a “role model” was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for the sexual assault of an underage church choir member.

David Tapley, 54, of Crystal Lake, was found guilty by a jury in September of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The conviction followed testimony from the girl who, with her service dog nearby in the courtroom, said Tapley began touching her inappropriately in the car on rides home from choir practice at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cary.

Tapley’s wife teaches at the affiliated school, and Tapley was a volunteer musician for the church’s children’s choir. At the time he was charged, Tapley was deacon of a separate church — Fox Valley Christian Reformed Church in Crystal Lake— but stepped down from his leadership role after the allegations surfaced, the pastor there confirmed.

Former Crystal Lake church deacon called 'very faithful Christian' gets 5 years for sexual abuse of girl - Chicago Tribune

UPDATED::Mascoutah IL Catholic priest under investigation | Belleville News-Democrat

 UPDATE:: Downstate priest faces trial next month on drug, child pornography charges

A downstate priest is slated to go on trial after the new year on child porn and drug charges.
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His criminal trial is expected to begin in January, according to prosecutors. He is charged with possessing and distributing kiddie porn and having methamphetamine.

He studied to become a priest in the 1990s at an Ohio seminary then run by Blase Cupich, now Chicago’s cardinal.

The associate pastor of Holy Childhood Church and school in Mascoutah was taken into police custody Monday morning, according to the state’s attorney.

The priest was identified as the Rev. Gerald R. Hechenberger.

“We have been working with Belleville (police) and the task force for several weeks and we anticipate they will be submitting evidence collected pursuant to a search warrant we issued within the next 48 hours to be reviewed for charges involving Gerald Hechenberger,” St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said.

Mascoutah IL Catholic priest under investigation | Belleville News-Democrat

Judge dismisses female genital mutilation charges in historic case

In a major blow to the federal government, a judge in Detroit has declared America's female genital mutilation law unconstitutional, thereby dismissing the key charges against two Michigan doctors and six others accused of subjecting at least nine minor girls to the cutting procedure in the nation's first FGM case.

The historic case involves minor girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, including some who cried, screamed and bled during the procedure and one who was given Valium ground in liquid Tylenol to keep her calm, court records show.

The judge's ruling also dismissed charges against three mothers, including two Minnesota women whom prosecutors said tricked their 7 -year-old daughters into thinking they were coming to metro Detroit for a girls' weekend, but instead had their genitals cut at a Livonia clinic as part of a religious procedure.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman concluded that "as despicable as this practice may be," Congress did not have the authority to pass the 22-year-old federal law that criminalizes female genital mutilation, and that FGM is for the states to regulate. FGM is banned worldwide and has been outlawed in more than 30 countries, though the U.S. statute had never been tested before this case.

Judge dismisses female genital mutilation charges in historic case

#23::Transgender woman fatally stabbed, body left behind abandoned West Side building | Chicago Sun-Times

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A transgender woman who was found dead with stab wounds late Wednesday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood is believed to have been killed by a person she was arguing with, according to a statement from Chicago police.

At 9:28 p.m., the 31-year-old was with a male inside an abandoned building in the 4500 block of West Adams, police said. As a disagreement between them flared up, he proceeded to stab her and then leave her body in the backyard of the building.

She was identified as Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier on Thursday by Casey Callich with the Howard Brown Health Center.

Transgender woman fatally stabbed, body left behind abandoned West Side building | Chicago Sun-Times

Pike County pastor charged for alleged sexual abuse | KHQA

A Pike County pastor was arrested last Friday for alleged sexual abuse.

Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty confirmed that Jeffrey Krupinski, 51 from Pittsfield, Illinois was arrested on two charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. Krupinski is the Pastor of Detroit Christian Church in the village of Detroit, IL.

Krupinski appeared in court Friday and was given a hearing date of November 13, 2018.

Pike County pastor charged for alleged sexual abuse | KHQA

North Aurora pastor sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually abusing teen church member - Aurora Beacon-News

An Aurora man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a teen girl at the church in North Aurora where he was pastor.

Ralphael J. Robinson, 41, the former leader of Kingdom Church in North Aurora, was arrested in April 2016 and pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Robinson, of the 1700 block of Felten Road, was also charged with failing to notify authorities of a change of address as part of his lifetime sex offender registration requirements.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Lori Schmidt stated in court that on April 8, 2016, Robinson sexually abused the victim, who was younger than 18, according to a press release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

North Aurora pastor sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually abusing teen church member - Aurora Beacon-News

New trial date slated for DeKalb pastor in child porn case | Daily Chronicle

A DeKalb pastor who will soon go to trial on child pornography charges hasn’t paid a dime toward his electronic home monitoring since February, DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said.


Corey D. Butler, 37, who has said he’s still preaching at Jesus is the Way Christian Center in DeKalb, has been charged with possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography.

If convicted of the most serious charge, sharing child porn, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

He was ordered to wear an electronic home monitoring ankle bracelet in April 2015 and posted $10,000 bail, a couple of months after police said they’d found pornography was being distributed from a computer at Butler’s address in the 600 block of Kent Road in DeKalb between Feb. 28 and March 2, 2015.

New trial date slated for DeKalb pastor in child porn case | Daily Chronicle

Chicago pastor Rigoberto Gamez charged with sex abuse involving force, battery | abc7chicago.com

A pastor who has been assigned to at least three churches in Chicago is accused of sexually abusing two women and attacking a teen girl, police said Friday.

Rigoberto Gamez, 52, was charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual abuse involving force and misdemeanor battery in connection with attacks on a 18-year-old woman, a 27-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, police said.

The attacks began in November 2016. Prosecutors said Gamez fondled a 27-year-old office manager after a luncheon in the church rectory.

Officials said Gamez began abusing an 18-year-old female parishioner who volunteered in the church office in October 2017. The alleged abuse didn't stop until the victim's parents confronted Gamez in December 2017.

Chicago pastor Rigoberto Gamez charged with sex abuse involving force, battery | abc7chicago.com