East St. Louis Man Accused of Sex Abuse
By Jennifer A. Bowen
Belleville News-Democrat
August 22, 2008
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/443438.html
A former O'Fallon church youth minister charged last month with assaulting an 8-year-old girl has been charged again with sexually assaulting another youngster.
Terrence Jenkins, 36, of 542 N. 14th St. in East St. Louis, was charged Thursday by St. Clair County prosecutors with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. The girl was 14 when assaulted on Aug. 11, 2006, the charges state.
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| Terrence Jenkins |
He is accused of molesting both girls while he served as a youth minister with Faith United Baptist Church in O'Fallon, according to the court documents. Jenkins is no longer with the church.
He was out on bond awaiting trial on charges of criminal predatory sexual assault of the 8-year-old when St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Investigator Desmond Williams took him into custody Wednesday night on a warrant for the newest charges.
"This investigation has been ongoing for some time, and we are waiting for crime lab analysis," said Capt. Steve Johnson of the Sheriff's Department. "This is an appalling violation of the trust that children put into adults."
The first charges were filed July 23 and allege Jenkins sexually assaulted the 8-year-old girl in December. The girl was a member of his church and was in his youth ministry.
Jenkins also served as an auxiliary police officer in East St. Louis, according to East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Baxton.
St. Clair County Circuit Judge Jan Fiss set Jenkins' bail at $500,000 for the new charge. Jenkins remained in custody Thursday at the St. Clair County Jail.
Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667.
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