A volunteer youth pastor at the First United Method Church of Gilbert was arrested on suspicion of molesting a mentally disabled girl. The alleged victim was 14.
James Ward Chapman III has some explaining to do:
Court records show Chapman admitted he touched the privates of the girl, who was a family friend, in December 2006 while the pair were watching television. She was not a member of the church, officials at the church said.
Chapman initially told police he did not molest the girl, but then after showing signs of deception during a lie-detector test that analyzes voices, he admitted to touching her, records show.
Chapmen was removed from his job as a pastor after a separate incident where a youth accused Chapmen of "being too friendly". Of course, church leadership is now coming to grips with the fact that not reporting Chapmen may have contributed to his newest alleged crime. Were they worried about bad press?
2 comments:
Sorry to inform you that Mr. Chapman was never a "youth pastor" your records would be from the tribune which incorrectly stated that he was a pastor. The Republic correctly stated that he was only a volunteer
Actually Ward was my Youth leader/ Counselor/Volleyball coach (and a "friend") at another church... Youth pastor, volunteer what's the difference he was still interacting with the youth and had been given the opportunity to violate many.
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