Police: Pennsylvania Woman Drives Into Path Of Oncoming Vehicle While Waiting For Calling From God – CBS Philly

A Luzerne County woman drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle as a way to test her faith, then exhibited no concern about the people who were injured in the crash, state police said. Bail was revoked this week for Nadejda Reilly, 31, of Drums, who is charged with aggravated assault and other offenses over allegations she purposely caused the wreck on Route 93 near Weatherly on Jan. 7.

An investigator said Reilly told him she had been driving around for a few hours, waiting for a calling from God, when she decided to drive through the oncoming vehicle.

“Reilly related God took care of her by not having her injured,” wrote Trooper Bruce Balliet in an arrest affidavit. “Reilly expressed no concerns or remorse for the victims. Reilly also stated she did not care if the other people were injured because God would have taken care of them.”


Police: Pennsylvania Woman Drives Into Path Of Oncoming Vehicle While Waiting For Calling From God – CBS Philly

UPDATED::Pastor, founder of Creation Festival charged with sexual assault of minors | PennLive.com

UPDATE::  Harry Thomas, former Medford pastor, loses bid to withdraw guilty plea

A 76-year-old pastor imprisoned for sexually abusing girls has lost another bid to withdraw his guilty plea.

Harry Thomas, who formerly led Come Alive Church in Medford, is serving an 18-year term after admitting in court to crimes against five young victims.

But in arguments before an appeals court, Thomas contended his plea was invalid because his testimony had not established an adequate factual basis for four charges against him.

UPDATE::  Ex-pastor will serve 18 years for sexual assaults of minors

The 75-year-old pastor and founder of a Medford church and the country's largest Christian rock festival was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday after sexually assaulting four minors and having "inappropriate interaction" with another over a 16-year period.

Harry Thomas was the pastor of Come Alive Church in Medford and the co-founder of the Creation Festival, perhaps the largest Christian music festival in the country.

Thomas pleaded guilty in February to one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

UPDATE::  Medford Township Pastor Pleaded Guilty To Sexually Assaulting 5 Juveniles

A pastor at a Medford Township church has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting five juveniles over a multi-year period ending in 2015.
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Under an agreement with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Thomas will be sentenced to up to 20 years in state prison for the crimes, with no parole eligibility.

The New Jersey pastor who co-founded Creation Festival, a Christian music festival held annually in Pennsylvania since 1979, is charged with sexually assaulting minors.

Harry L. Thomas, 74, of Medford Twp., N.J., and pastor of Come Alive Church, is charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Burlington County (N.J) Prosecutor's Office.

He is accused of assaulting four minors over a 16-year-period, NJ.com reported. The alleged assaults ended two years ago, according to the prosecutor's office. Authorities said the assaults occurred between 1999 and 2016 in Medford.

Pastor, founder of Creation Festival charged with sexual assault of minors | PennLive.com

Court-Appointed Guardians Accused of Stealing Over $1M From 100 Incapacitated Victims - NBC 10 Philadelphia

A Delaware County man, his wife and his sister-in-law are accused of using a shell company and their local church to steal over $1 million from more than 100 incapacitated people they were appointed by a court to take care of.

Gloria Byars, 58, of Aldan, Pennsylvania, as well as 70-year-old Carolyn Collins and 59-year-old Keith Collins, both of Ridley Park, are charged with multiple counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and conspiracy.

The charges come after a lengthy investigation that began in February 2017 when detectives with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office met with a newly court-appointed guardian for a 94-year-old person who was incapacitated and living in a nursing home. A guardian is appointed by the court to manage life decisions for an incapacitated person.

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In all, the three suspects victimized 108 people throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, stealing a total amount of $1,009,172.01, investigators said.

Court-Appointed Guardians Accused of Stealing Over $1M From 100 Incapacitated Victims - NBC 10 Philadelphia..

Federal investigation of priest sex abuse in Pa. produces first charges - pennlive.com

Federal prosecutors filed their first charges Thursday in a sweeping investigation of child sexual abuse by clerics in Pennsylvania, accusing a former Roman Catholic priest of lying to the FBI about whether he knew an accuser and his family.

Robert Brennan, 81, was arrested in Maryland and is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia, authorities said.

Brennan told FBI agents in April that he did not know accuser Sean McIlmail from his years at a northeast Philadelphia parish from 1993 to 2004, according to the indictment.

Federal investigation of priest sex abuse in Pa. produces first charges - pennlive.com

Defrocked Bucks County priest faces assault charges after victims come forward 20 years later

A defrocked Catholic priest was charged Tuesday with abusing two altar boys decades ago at a parish in Bucks County.

Francis Trauger, 74, was charged Tuesday morning with indecent assault and corruption of minors in connection with the assaults, which prosecutors say occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was released on $250,000 unsecured bail.

Defrocked Bucks County priest faces assault charges after victims come forward 20 years later:

Catholic priest Joseph McLoone stole church money and spent it on himself, Grindr men, authorities say

A Catholic priest in Pennsylvania has been arrested for stealing nearly $100,000 from his church and spending it on a beach house, travel, dining and "men with whom he maintained sexual relationships," according to authorities.

Father Joseph McLoone, 56, was charged with felony theft and related crimes after diverting parish funds into a secret account, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

"Father McLoone held a position of leadership and his parishioners trusted him to properly handle their generous donations to the church," said District Attorney Chief of Staff Charles Gaza. "Father McLoone violated the trust of the members of St. Joseph’s for his own personal gain.”

Catholic priest Joseph McLoone stole church money and spent it on himself, Grindr men, authorities say

US man accused of sex abuse at Kenyan orphanage he founded

A convicted sex offender went on to establish an orphanage in Kenya where he preyed on children under the guise of missionary work, according to federal prosecutors who announced Friday that he was being charged with sexually molesting four teenage girls.

Gregory Dow, 60, of Lancaster, is accused of four counts of violating a U.S. law against sexual contact with minors in foreign countries, U.S. Attorney William McSwain said. There likely are other victims, investigators said, but tracking the children who lived in the orphanage has been difficult.

Dow is accused of abuse from 2013 until 2017, when prosecutors say he fled back to the United States to avoid prosecution in Kenya. The Dow Family Children’s Home in Boito, in a rural area west of Nairobi, closed in September 2017.


US man accused of sex abuse at Kenyan orphanage he founded

Central Pa. pastor had child pornography images with his face superimposed on them: police - pennlive.com

A Chambersburg-area pastor was jailed last week, accused of possessing sexually explicit images of bondage scenarios involving children that also had his face superimposed into them.

The Office of the Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force did the investigation into Stephen L. Dunn, 68, and filed charges on Thursday, according to court documents.

AG Josh Shapiro pointed out Dunn is a pastor in Franklin County.

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Dunn’s personal website states that he has been a veteran pastor for more than 48 years, associated with four ministries including being the Director of Bridgebuilders Ministries, which he states is his “personal ministry” to help churches be healthy. He also lists himself as interim executive pastor for a Hanover church.

Dunn lists his main job as the director of the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God Ministry Training Institute.

Central Pa. pastor had child pornography images with his face superimposed on them: police - pennlive.com

Pastor facing child pornography charges - pennlive.com

A Franklin County pastor is facing charges after authorities say that during a child-pornography investigation, they found superimposed images of his face and children in bondage scenarios.

Stephen Dunn, 68, of Chambersburg, is facing 10 child pornography charges and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, all third-degree felonies, court records indicate. 

“Pastors have a position of power and trust. Stephen Dunn of Franklin (County) broke the trust his community placed in him as their pastor when he was found with child pornography,” state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement on Twitter Saturday. “The full force of my office will come to bear on him and anyone threatening the safety of PA children.”

Pastor facing child pornography charges - pennlive.com

UPDATED::Former Pocomoke Youth Pastor Convicted of Sex Abuse Crimes - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

UPDATE::  Former youth pastor to serve 37 years in Worcester sex abuse case

A former youth pastor at a Pocomoke City church has been sentenced to spend more than three decades in prison after he was convicted of multiple counts of sex abuse.

The Worcester County State's Attorney's Office said Rodney Harmon Jr. of Stockton was sentenced Friday to 75 years incarceration with all but 37 years suspended. He will also be required to register for life as a sex offender.

In February 2019, prosecutors said the 34-year-old was convicted of three counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of displaying an obscene item to a minor.

A Stockton man who previously served as a youth pastor at a Pocomoke City church has been convicted of sexually abusing minors.

According to the Office of the State's Attorney for Worcester County, Rodney Harmon, Jr., 34 of Stockton, was convicted on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of displaying an obscene item to a minor.

The charges come from a complaint received by the Worcester County Sheriff's Office in August 2018. The Worcester County Child Advocacy Center and Child Protective Services then started a joint investigation. They found that Harmon had sexually abused multiple children while serving as a youth pastor for a local church in Pocomoke City.

Former Pocomoke Youth Pastor Convicted of Sex Abuse Crimes - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 

Initial story:: Youth church leader charged with sexually abusing children in Lancaster County

UPDATED::Homicide Trial: Woman Claims Online Alien Cult Led to Deadly Shooting | WNEP.com

UPDATE::  Woman Convicted in Alien Cult Murder Case Sentenced to Prison

The final chapter of a woman's trial involving murder, aliens, and an online cult ended Monday in Monroe County Court.

Barbara Rogers was sentenced to 15 to 40 years behind bars for the murder of her boyfriend Steven Mineo in 2017.

"We are most likely going to be appealing it. It was very unfair," Roger said on Monday.

A murder trial is underway in Monroe County for a woman accused of shooting her boyfriend.

Barbara Rogers entered the Monroe County Courthouse Monday morning for her trial in the death of Stephen Mineo.

Police say Rogers shot Mineo in the head at a home near Tobyhanna in July of 2017.


According to investigators, Rogers and Mineo belonged to "Sherry Shriner," an online cult centered on aliens and the end of the world.

Rogers claims the cult turned against her and Mineo, and because of those problems, Mineo wanted her to kill him.

Homicide Trial: Woman Claims Online Alien Cult Led to Deadly Shooting | WNEP.com

STEPHAN RAMSIER: Former pastor convicted of abusing young girl facing civil penalty | WPXI

A former pastor convicted of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl is also facing a major civil penalty.

After a non-jury trial, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Donald Walko ordered Stephan Ramsier to pay the victim $2.5 million in damages.

Ramsier is still serving a prison sentence for the abuse, which took place between 2008 and 2011 when the victim was 9 years old.

His parole hearing is scheduled for October.

STEPHAN RAMSIER: Former pastor convicted of abusing young girl facing civil penalty | WPXI

Philadelphia pastor among 16 men netted in New Jersey child predator investigation | 6abc.com

 A Philadelphia minister is among 16 men arrested in a New Jersey child predator sting operation.

The New Jersey attorney general's office announced the arrests during "Operation Home Alone" during a press conference Wednesday.


Roger Arroyo, 37, was charged for allegedly luring kids through social media apps.

 Arroyo is a traveling minister from Philadelphia. He faces charges including second degree luring, third-degree attempted debauching morals of a child and fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual contact.

Philadelphia pastor among 16 men netted in New Jersey child predator investigation | 6abc.com

UPDATED::Philadelphia priest under investigation for alleged misconduct with a minor - Philly

UPDATE::  Philadelphia priest charged with rape, sexual abuse of minor

A priest from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been arrested and charged with rape and sexual abuse of a minor.

Armand Garcia, 49, was pastor at Saint Martin of Tours in Oxford Circle, but his alleged crime took place in 2014 while he was at the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Roxborough.


Garcia was placed on administrative leave a year ago when the police investigation began.

The investigation began in 2018 with allegations Garcia abused a teenage girl between 2014 and 2017.

The pastor of a Northeast Philadelphia Catholic parish has been placed on administrative leave while police investigate a report of alleged misconduct with a minor, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Sunday.

The Rev. Armand Garcia, formerly of St. Martin of Tours parish in the city’s Summerdale section, was removed from his post March 16 – the same day that investigators executed a search warrant on the parish rectory, said Kenneth Gavin, chief communications officer for the archdiocese.

Parishioners were informed of Garcia’s leave and the circumstances behind it last weekend. But details of the investigation remained sparse more than a week later.

Philadelphia priest under investigation for alleged misconduct with a minor - Philly

Mom, Teen Daughter Accused of Killing 5 Family Members Spoke of ‘Demons Being All Around’: Relative

Grieving relatives say religious beliefs may have compelled a mother and her teenage daughter to allegedly massacre five of their family members — including three children — inside a suburban Pennsylvania apartment.

Damon Decree, Sr., the ex-husband of suspect Shana Decree, 45, and the father of suspect Dominique Decree, 19, told WPVI that both women had been “talking about demons being all around them.”

Decree said he believes the mother and daughter — charged Monday with murdering Shana’s two children, Naa’Irah Smith, 25, and Damon Decree Jr., 13, along with her sister, Jamilla Campbell, 42, and Campbell’s 9-year-old twin daughters, Imani and Erika Allen — may have been indoctrinated into an unspecified online religious group.

“Apparently, they had dissected into some type of cult that they materialized online,” he said. “I don’t know how or what kind of cult.”

Destiny Harris, the half-sister of the twin victims, also told WPVI the family had been “going through something religiously and they decided to drag the kids into it.”

Mom, Teen Daughter Accused of Killing 5 Family Members Spoke of ‘Demons Being All Around’: Relative

Authorities: Administrator, wife stole $1.2M from church | WJAC

Authorities say a western Pennsylvania church administrator stole $1.2 million that he and his wife used to pay for vacations, sports tickets and other personal expenses. 

The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office says 50-year-old David Reiter, of South Park, is charged with theft, forgery and receiving stolen property. His 44-year-old wife, Connie Reiter, faces two counts of receiving stolen property.

Authorities say the money was stolen from the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair over the course of about 17 years.

Authorities: Administrator, wife stole $1.2M from church | WJAC:

Retired Pittsburgh priest, 88, charged with sexual abuse of children | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An 88-year-old retired Roman Catholic priest was charged Friday in Allegheny County with sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in 2001 during altar-server training at St. Therese Church in Munhall.

The Rev. Hugh J. Lang was charged with sexual abuse of children and six related charges. He turned himself in without incident, according to Allegheny County police, and was arraigned Friday afternoon by District Judge Thomas Torkowsky in Munhall and released on his own recognizance.

He had been suspended in August when the Diocese of Pittsburgh learned of the allegation against him. In retirement, Father Lang had still been presiding at Mass at St. Anne Parish in Castle Shannon.

Retired Pittsburgh priest, 88, charged with sexual abuse of children | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Treasurer stole nearly $170K from Bellefonte church, police said | WJAC

A Bellefonte man is facing more than 300 counts of theft and receiving stolen property after writing checks to himself from a church’s account, according to police.

Police said 56-year-old Charles Kormanski wrote 379 checks to himself from St. John Lutheran Church, totaling nearly $170,000, over the course of seven years, beginning on Christmas 2011.

Police said church officials became suspicious when one of its members, who was in the financial profession, began taking a closer look at the church’s accounts and alerted the church that it would run out of money if something wasn’t done.

Treasurer stole nearly $170K from Bellefonte church, police said | WJAC

UPDATED::Catholic priest in Pennsylvania charged with sexual abuse of two boys | PhillyVoice

UPDATE::  Former Erie priest sentenced to 2.5 to 14 years

Former Erie Catholic priest in the Diocese of Erie, David Poulson, was sentenced to two and a half to 14 years in prison for his repeated sexual assaults against one boy and the attempted assault of another boy.

Poulson was sentenced by a Jefferson County Common Pleas Court judge for felony crimes of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. Poulson was immediately taken into custody after his sentencing.

The victims were 8 and 15-years-old when Poulson assaulted them.

UPDATE::  Former Pennsylvania Priest Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Abuse

A former Pennsylvania priest, one of hundreds of so-called “predator priests” accused of rampant child abuse in the state, has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a boy and attempting to assault another.

David Poulson, 64, who had been a priest in the Diocese of Erie for four decades, pleaded guilty to corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children – third-degree felonies ― on Wednesday in Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.

Paulson’s victims were 8 and 15 years old when authorities say he began abusing them between 2002 and 2010.

UPDATE:: Erie Catholic priest charged with sexually abusing two boys for years waives hearing; heads for trial 

The former Catholic priest from the Diocese of Erie who earlier this month was arrested and charged with three felonies related to child sex crimes on Thursday waived his preliminary hearing.

In a written statement, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that David Poulson will stand trial on charges that he sexually abused two young boys over a period of several years.
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The waiver by Poulson means prosecutors can proceed with preparations for trial. All charges against Poulson, 64, of Oil City, were held for court. Bail was set at $300,000 cash, or 10 percent.

A 40-year priest, Poulson, was charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. Three of those counts are felonies.

A Catholic priest in the Diocese of Erie is charged with sexually assaulting two boys, including an altar boy whom the priest allegedly abused after Mass on Sundays and then made go to confession to describe the incidents, authorities said.

Rev. David Poulson, 64, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced at a press conference Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Poulson, of Oil City, began abusing one of the boys when the child was 8 years old. The second boy was 15 when the alleged abuse began. A grand jury alleged Paulson sexually abused the two boys for several years.

Catholic priest in Pennsylvania charged with sexual abuse of two boys | PhillyVoice

Pennsylvania Predator Priest Named in Report Jailed for Assault on 10-Year-Old Boy - NBC 10 Philadelphia

A Roman Catholic priest on Friday became the first person sentenced to prison as a result of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation that found hundreds of clergy had abused children over seven decades.

The Rev. John Thomas Sweeney, 76, received 11½ months to five years in state prison and will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

He pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor indecent assault on a minor after being accused of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him while counseling the fourth-grader about misbehaving on a school bus.

"I want the public to know that he's profoundly remorseful for any pain, anguish and discomfort that the victim has suffered as a result of his actions," said Sweeney's lawyer, Fran Murrman, after the sentencing in Westmoreland County.

Pennsylvania Predator Priest Named in Report Jailed for Assault on 10-Year-Old Boy - NBC 10 Philadelphia