Berea: Former pastor indicted on sex charges

Posted by Shelly Guerra

The News Sun

April 23, 2008

A former youth pastor at the Berea Baptist Church on West Street was indicted on 15 counts of sexual abuse by a Cuyahoga County grand jury Tuesday, April 22.

Jeremy Workman, 32, of Olmsted Falls, was accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage youth group member. The relationship began in 2004, when the girl was 15. The young woman, now 19, confirmed she had a voluntary sexual relationship with the man.

Workman was indicted on three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and 12 counts of sexual battery. Ryan Miday of the prosecutor's office said Workman could face more than 70 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Workman had resigned from his position as youth pastor in January, after the young woman became pregnant with his child. The church's pastor alerted police, and the investigation began in late February.

http://blog.cleveland.com/newssun/2008/04/berea_former_pastor_indicted_o.html