By Sadie Gurman
Rockford Register Star
May 14, 2008
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x273549658/Machesney-pastor-faces-more-sexual-abuse-charges
MACHESNEY PARK —
A Machesney Park pastor accused of having sex with a teenage girl faces new sexual-abuse charges after Winnebago County Sheriff's detectives investigated similar claims from a second teenage girl.
Jonathon Christopher Powell, 40, a senior pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, was charged Wednesday with two counts of criminal sexual abuse for allegedly having "sexual conduct" with the second girl, Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro said.
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| New Hope Baptist Church is located at 1100 Old Ralston Road, Machesney Park. Jonathon Christopher Powell, a pastor there, has been charged with sexual assault. Photo by Sadie Gurman |
A criminal complaint filed in Winnebago County Court says the acts happened between Aug. 20, 2003 and Aug. 19, 2004. The first count alleges that Powell fondled the girl's breast; the second count alleges that he placed his mouth on her breast.
Iasparro declined to comment on the details of the police investigation, but said it continues. Powell was charged last week with two counts of criminal sexual assault for allegedly having ongoing "inappropriate sexual relations" with a girl. The age of consent for sexual relations in Illinois is 17 and above.
He was in the Winnebago County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Leaders and members of the church, where Powell had been a pastor since 2000, have declined to comment, and messages left on the church's answering machine today were not returned.
A white wooden sign outside of the church noting its times of service had Powell's name on it at the beginning of Tuesday, but by Tuesday night it had been removed.
Each count of criminal sexual assault is punishable with four to 15 years in prison; criminal sexual abuse is punishable with probation or one to three years in prison.
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