By John Ford
Neosho Daily News
June 10, 2008
http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/x1763545061/Russell-bound-over-for-trial
A self-proclaimed pastor has been bound over for trial on several sexual abuse charges.
Randall "Danny" Russell, 49, pastor of Acts II church, 11285 Mulberry Road, was bound over for trial after three women, currently aged 20 to 24, testified during his preliminary hearing Monday morning that he molested, sodomized or raped them when they were under age.
Russell faces 12 felony sexual abuse charges in Newton County, as well as a misdemeanor charge of child molestation. According to Bill Dobbs, assistant prosecutor, Russell was bound over on nine of the charges Monday, with three others taken under advisement until Tuesday morning, when Division II Associate Circuit Court Judge Greg Stremel ruled there was sufficient evidence to bring these charges to trial as well. A court appearance has been set for June 16 on the felony charges, Dobbs said.
 |
| Russell |
The first alleged victim, now 20, testified the abuse began when she was about 15 years old and continued until April of this year. She said most of the incidents occurred in the church office.
"The abuse progressed from touching through the clothing to underneath the clothing and then to full-blown intercourse over a period of about a year," said Dobbs. "She said it happened two or more times a week."
Russell was charged with one count of second-degree statutory rape, one count of second-degree statutory sodomy, and one felony count of child abuse in connection with these allegations.
On April 29, deputies with the Newton County Sheriff's Department served a search warrant at the church, which is also the site of Russell's home and his business, Garages & More. Deputies seized a computer from the business and several photographs of a nude juvenile girl from the church office. According to a probable cause affidavit, the photos were dated Dec. 21, 2003.
"I spoke to Randall Danny Russell about these allegations," wrote Det. Mike Barnett, an investigator with the sheriff's department, in the affidavit. "Russelll stated that he did photograph (the girl) nude when she was 16 years of age. Russell stated that his first sexual encounter with (the teen) was at Morse Park."
According to the affidavit, Russell said the girl was 16 when they had oral sex, but he thought she was 18 when they had sexual intercourse for the first time.
According to the affidavit, while the encounters began at Morse Park, they were not limited to that setting. The young woman told authorities that between September 2003 and February 2004, Russell had her come to the church office several times for mentoring, and would fondle her on those occasions. She said these incidents occurred about once a month, with oral sex following in either December 2003 or January 2004.
She also said the acts of sexual intercourse began in May or June of 2004, shortly before her 17th birthday. These acts allegedly took place on a futon bed in the church office.
Under cross examination from Aaron Farber, Russell's defense attorney, the woman said at one time Russell proposed marriage to her, and bought her a ring, but she never considered the two engaged because Russell was already married. She added Russell was a "mentor" to her who sometimes took her shopping.
The second alleged victim, a woman now aged 24, testified she began attending church with the Russell family when she was 12 and living in Goodman. Dobbs said she told the court she traveled to church in one vehicle with Danny Russell, while Russell's wife, Shirley, went in another vehicle. She told the court Russell would fondle her on the way to church.
Under cross examination, the woman revealed she had not come forward until now because she was afraid.
The third woman to testify, now 19 and a sister to the first woman testifying Monday, said she also began attending the church at about 15 years of age, and abuse began shortly afterward with touching outside of her clothing.
"It progressed to skin to skin contact, but did not go beyond that," said Dobbs. "It went on for at least a couple of years."
Russell is also charged with Class A misdemeanor child abuse. This charge stems from allegations from a woman who now lives on the West Coast, who told the Daily News Russell had touched her outside of her clothes several years ago when she was 15. A court appearance on the misdemeanor charge is set for July 23 with Judge Stremel presiding.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.