Former youth leader arrested

Roy Wesley charged with molestation

By MARGARET BAKER

SUN HERALD, South Mississippi, March 17, 2007

PASCAGOULA - A former youth leader at a church in the St. Martin community has been arrested on a warrant accusing him of molestation, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department reported.

Roy Steven Wesley was arrested in Marietta, Ga., earlier in the week and was extradited back to Jackson County on Friday to face the felony molestation charge.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said the arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation into complaints of Wesley allegedly "touching and handling girls for the purpose of gratifying his lust or indulging his... sexual desires while being in the position of trust and authority."

Byrd said the molestation allegedly occurred in 2005 at the church in the St. Martin community. The sheriff did not identify the church where Wesley once served.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators said more victims might surface. Anyone with information about the case or who believes they have been victims are asked to call Jackson County Sheriff's Department Lt. Kim Versiga at 875-6963.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/16923246.htm