'My Poor Little Girl', by Eliza Barlow, Edmonton Sun [Canada], March 1, 2007

'My Poor Little Girl'

By Eliza Barlow
Edmonton Sun [Canada]
March 1, 2007

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/03/01/3680566-sun.html

Boyle -- "Why didn't I see? How could I not know? My poor little girl, I am so sorry this happened to you."

A tormented mother pounded the podium and wailed as she read her victim impact statement at the sentencing of a former youth pastor who molested her daughter for almost seven years, starting when she was only five.

Flanked by his family, Jordan Gill, centre, makes his way to the courthouse in Boyle yesterday where he admitted sexual contact with a child. Gill was sentenced to one year in jail.
Photo by Eliza Barlow, Sun

Judge Marilyn White sentenced Jordan David Gill, 25, to one year in jail after he pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of having sexual contact with a child.

Three more charges were withdrawn after the plea.

The victim and her family were members of the Word of Life church in Boyle, 149 km northeast of Edmonton. In 1997, the Gill family arrived in town, Gill's father Les Gill serving as pastor and Gill becoming a youth minister.

Reading agreed facts, Crown prosecutor Deb Stewart told court sexual contact between Gill and the victim, who can't be named, began when he was 16 and she was five. It started when the little girl would sit on Gill's lap in church, and progressed to hugging, kissing, French kissing and "rhythmic body rubbing."

Gill would rub the girl's vagina, mainly over her clothes but a few times, under her clothes. Sometimes Gill directed the girl's hand to touch his penis over her clothes.

Gill attacked the girl at her home, at his home and on the "Bible Bus,"a 15-seat van used to take church youth to various activities.

Initially, Gill abused the girl three to five times a month, though less often as she got older. Even after he got married in October 2002, the abuse continued

A year after the last incident in the fall of 2004, the victim told her parents the dark secret she'd carried for so long.

The victim's dad broke down in court as he told how the "betrayal of trust" made him question his abilities as a father.

"I feel like I failed as a protector of my family. I am so very angry at the perverted betrayal that has... robbed the innocence of my little girl."

In a statement read by his defence lawyer, Gill told his victim's family he was "sincerely sorry" for his crimes.

After court, the victim's parents said they were pleased that Gill is going to jail.

Gill's wife and parents ducked out a back fire exit of the courthouse after the sentencing, avoiding reporters.

The Word of Life church is gone from Boyle, and the victim's family said the Gills are now running a church in Fort Saskatchewan.

Gill has two young children, a three-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl.

Boyle RCMP Const. Andrew Olfert said Gill was also charged over similar allegations involving another young girl, also a member of the Word of Life congregation.

But the Crown didn't proceed on the charges.

"We're still open to new information if anyone were to come forward," said Olfert.

After his jail term, Gill will spend two years on probation. He will be listed on the sex offender registry for 20 years.

White also ordered that Gill not be allowed to hold any station that places him in a position of trust over children younger than 10.