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	Forest Grove Pastor Charged in Sex Crime Hillsboro Argus March 2, 2007 http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1172861529120690.xml&coll=6 A Forest Grove pastor and volunteer police and fire chaplain was arrested Wednesday for the inappropriate sexual touching of a 23-year-old woman from his congregation. Richard E. Sacks, 54, turned himself in to the Forest Grove Police Department, then was transported to the Washington County Jail for booking, said FGPD Capt. Aaron Ashbaugh. Forest Grove Police Department detectives began an investigation after Sacks confessed his actions to Police Chief Glenn VanBlarcom in December 2006. The Washington County District Attorney elected to press two counts of class A misdemeanor harassment, reserved only for offensive touching of another person in an intimate or sexual area. Sacks was immediately removed from his position as a volunteer chaplain with the Forest Grove fire and police departments. Sacks was the pastor for the Calvary Christian Fellowship, which holds Sunday morning services at the Forest Grove School District administration offices, 1728 Main St. Sacks also resigned from the church in December, new pastor Corby Stephens said. Stephens replaced Sacks Feb. 4., and says he isn't aware of the specifics of the case. Connie Potter, a spokeswoman for the school district, said she'd known "Rich" for a long time. Potter said Sacks was part of an unofficial ministerial group of area faith leaders that met with school district officials every other month to exchange information on how to improve life for the town's youth. "They go back to their congregations and let them know what's new and what's important," Potter said. Ashbaugh said he wasn't sure if a misdemeanor conviction would bar someone from ever serving as a chaplain again. "We're shocked and obviously disappointed," said Ashbaugh. "We're not using his services any more and we won't be." Police and fire chaplains offer counseling services to officers and firefighters involved in traumatic situations. They are also available to help citizens in grieving situations, or victims of trauma or crime accidents. Sacks resides at 2119 B St. in Forest Grove.
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