WBNS
July 21, 2008
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/07/21/pastor_charges.html?sid=102
MANSFIELD, Ohio — A judge on Monday set bond at $250,000 for a former youth pastor accused of sexually assaulting a teenager.
John Picard is accused of having sexual relations with a girl starting in 1992 when she was 13 and continuing until she reached adulthood when he was at Mansfield's Grace Brethren church, 10TV News reported.
Picard pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of sexual battery.
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| John Picard |
Police said that the first claim against Picard, now 40, came in 2005. The girl, who at that time was 16, claimed that Picard first engaged with sexual conduct with her but investigators did not have any supporting evidence to charge him.
Another woman came forward last week who said she and Picard had a sexual relationship that started when she was 13.
Investigators said that Picard not only used his position in the church to prey on his victims that he also used scripture to convince the girls that what he was doing was right.
"They looked up to this person for their spiritual guidance," said Mansfield police Detective Jeff Shook. "He violated that."
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