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3 Ministers Charged With Failing To Report Alleged Abuse
Police: Gateway Baptist Pastors Helped Suspect Find Attorney
July 12, 2007
TheDenverChannel.com
LOVELAND, Colo. -- Three ministers face charges for allegedly failing to report child abuse by a member of their congregation.
Instead of contacting authorities, police on Wednesday said the pastors at Gateway Baptist Church encouraged 23-year-old Paul Lavertu, of Windsor, to turn himself in and they helped him find an attorney.
James Rice, Thad Gunderson and Eric Mowen face charges of failing to report the alleged abuse, which is a misdemeanor. An after-business hours message left at the church was not immediately returned. Police said Lavertu allegedly inappropriately touched at least five children under their clothes. The victims were two girls ages 10 and 14, and three boys ages 8, 10, and 14.
Police said one sexual assault happened in Fort Collins last month involving a 14-year-old girl; another happened in Loveland about two years ago involving a 10-year-old girl; and three incidents happened in unincorporated Larimer County involving three boys, ages 8, 10, and 14, in the summer of 2006. Four of the alleged victims and Lavertu were members of the church.
Fort Collins police, which issued a statement, said the pastors were made aware of the incidents last summer.
Lavertu and his attorney spoke with investigators this summer. June 22 was the first time police learned of the alleged crimes. He wasn't arrested until Monday, after police said he assaulted another child.
"He gave us minimal details. The problem is the victims in this case were not cooperative," Sgt. Don Whitson said. "They were hoping it would all be handled within the church."
Jim Avery, an attorney for the family of one of the victims, told the Rocky Mountain News that parishioners were told about the assaults, which occurred at church functions, and decided to shelter the suspect.
Avery said the church even offered Lavertu counseling.
Avery represents the family of a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted earlier this month. The boy is not a member of the church.
"They're outraged. The family is absolutely livid. They're outraged that this situation has occured," said Avery. "My client would not have been exposed to this person had they known he was a sexual deviant."
Avery described Lavertu as a mentally disabled adult member of a youth group. The boy is now undergoing counseling. The boy's family may sue the church for damages.
"How can anyone in modern society not be aware of the fact that a sexual predator is going to strike again?" Avery asked.
Lavertu was arrested on suspicion of three counts of sexual assault on a child, a felony; one count of attempted sexual assault on a child, a felony; and one count of unlawful sexual contact, a misdemeanor.
Rice, the church's founder and senior pastor, told the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper that they had Lavertu come forward to the police and the church provided information soon after.
"We didn't have all the facts (regarding their obligations under the law), but we're not going to hide behind that," Rice told the newspaper. "We weren't trying to hide anything."
A police spokeswoman said that Colorado law has specific requirements for persons required to report abuse or neglect and it includes the clergy.
Police have not released the suspect's picture. They want to see if there are victims out there.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13667475/detail.html
See also:
"Loveland pastors enter plea agreement for failure to report abuse, The Reporter-Herald, 12/16/07