Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Youth Minister Accused of Molesting Teen Boys

The weeks alleged pedophile pastor is a Philadelphia youth pastor named James Wilkerson. He is alleged to have molested five young boys in his care.

One of Wilkerson's alleged victims flagged down a bike cop Wednesday night to share anguished details of the assaults, prompting four other victims to come forward, police Sgt. Brian King, of the special victims unit said yesterday.

The alleged victims are all boys, ages 13 to 16. They told investigators that the assaults occurred inside the church, on Dauphin Street near Tulip, where Wilkerson sometimes taught a kung-fu class, and at his home a block away, King said.

Summerfield-Siloam United Methodist Church acted to protect their children by insuring Wilkerson no longer has access to children, and by confronting his crimes in an open meeting.