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	Pastor Acquitted of Fondling Girl 10-Year-Old Alleged 'Touching' in '05 Visit By Rebecca S. Green Journal Gazette April 21, 2007 http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/17113984.htm Huntington — A Huntington County jury, after more than two hours of deliberation, found a youth pastor not guilty Friday of fondling a 10-year-old girl. Kevin Whitacre, 34, went on trial this week on two counts of child molesting, both felonies punishable by up to eight years in prison. He was accused of fondling a then-10-year-old girl when she visited his family's apartment in Good Shepherd Church, 1280 Hitzfield St., in the summer of 2005. He was arrested in March 2006. Whitacre did not know the girl through his work at the church. The jury returned the not-guilty verdict just before 9 p.m. On Friday, Whitacre testified in his own defense, telling the jury of four women and eight men that he never fondled the girl. "I never touched her in any sexual way or for any sexual purpose," he said, looking directly at the jury. Throughout his testimony, Whitacre looked almost exclusively at the jury, even when undergoing cross-examination by Huntington County Prosecutor Amy Richison. The girl, who lived in Pennsylvania with her mother, visited Whitacre's family in the summer of 2005. According to court documents, the girl told her mother that while visiting Whitacre in June and August 2005, he touched her in ways that made her feel uncomfortable. Whitacre would often lie next to the girl on her bed and touch her, according to a probable cause affidavit. The girl told investigators Whitacre had gone through her suitcase and was looking at her undergarments, according to court documents. During his testimony, Whitacre said he lay down next to her when she had fallen ill and returned from the doctor's office. He said he felt her forehead for a fever and touched her stomach, asking her whether she still felt sick. He testified he did go through her clothes but to pack for a day trip to Lake Michigan. Under cross-examination, Richison asked him how many times he contacted Ron Hochstetler, investigator for the prosecutor's office, after Hochstetler called him and asked him to come in for an interview. Whitacre said he called once to confirm the time, but Hochstetler said he called at least twice and came into the office in an attempt to talk with Hochstetler before the interview. Whitacre has remained on a paid leave of absence at the church since his March 2006 arrest. Contact: rgreen@jg.net
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