Royden Wood leaves the courthouse with his wife Linda yesterday after being charged with six new counts of sexual assault. (Mike Hensen, Sun Media)

Former pastor facing six more assault charges

Royden Wood will be back in court Aug. 27 for sentencing on charges for which he was already convicted

By KRISTA SEGGEWISS

The London Free Press

London, Ontario, Canada

July 3, 2008

Already awaiting sentencing on 12 charges, a former London pastor was back in court yesterday -- charged with six counts of sexual assault.

Royden Wood, former pastor of London's Ambassador Baptist Church, was released after a bail hearing with conditions, a $10,000 deposit and his employer acting as a surety.

Wood declined comment as he left the court, holding his wife's hand and accompanied by his employer, Earl Dunn, owner of a Muskoka-area marina where Wood works.

Publication bans imposed yesterday protect the identity of the latest complainants against the controversial former pastor and evidence heard at his bail hearing.

The latest charges, involving six females, spring from allegations dating between 1985 and 2005.

Wood was convicted in April, following a lengthy trial at which he defended himself, of 12 charges involving abuse of members of his flock.

The charges included nine involving physical assaults on three boys, members of the conservative church's alternative school from 1985 to 1987, and three sex-related charges involving two female congregants.

Ambassador Baptist Church closed last fall.

Wood is to be sentenced Aug. 27, a day before his next scheduled court appearance on the latest charges.

The new complaints were brought to police attention last December while Wood was awaiting trial on another matter.

Justice of the Peace Michael McMahon agreed to Wood's release under conditions he not contact or communicate with the six women or their families.

He's also prohibited from possessing weapons and acting "in any position of authority in any religious organization or affiliation, anywhere," McMahon said.

He must also obey a curfew.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/07/03/6051591-sun.html

See also:

Ex-pastor gets 11 months in jail, London Free Press, 9/3/2008

Pastor guilty, London Free Press, 4/19/2008  

Former pastor found guilty, London Free Press, 4/18/2008

Student testifies of bizarre abuse, The Chronicle Herald, 2/14/2008