By Dennis Huspeni
The Gazette
October 24, 2008
http://www.gazette.com/articles/moore_42342___article.html/girl_affidavit.html
A former associate pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church pleaded guilty late Thursday to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old parishioner and will likely serve no more than 60 days in jail.
Jon Moore, 52, of Colorado Springs pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. That felony normally carries a range of up to 12 years in prison, but Moore will serve 60 days in jail or nine months with work release if 4th Judicial District Judge Larry Schwartz approves the agreement.
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The deal was mediated by Senior District Judge Richard Toth, according to court records.Senior Deputy District Attorney Debbie Pearson said Friday the victim and her family agreed to the plea deal.
Moore admitted he began assaulting the girl when she was 15 years old in 2004. He started by fondling her, according to an arrest affidavit. By the girl's 16th birthday he was having her perform oral sex on him and exposing himself via webcam from the church's computer.
"She would tell Jon Moore that she was a virgin and didn't know what was happening," according to the affidavit by Colorado Springs police detective Payton Patterson.
Eventually, Moore was having intercourse with the girl after Sunday services in the church basement, according to the affidavit.
"Jon would tell her to wear a skirt to church so he would have easier access to her," the affidavit states.
The abuse continued for more than a year.
The girl's family eventually moved out of state. Her father called police in February to report the abuse.
When the girl made a phone call to Moore that police were recording telling him how the abuse had ruined her life, he responded that "he was stupid."
"He (said) that he has a conscience and indicated that he has guilt, regret and remorse," the affidavit states. "Jon Moore also said he is as sick over this as she is. Jon Moore also asked (the girl) if she wanted him to go to jail or end his life."
He apologized to her and said he wished he were dead, according to the affidavit.
The agreement stipulates Schwartz can sentence him to up to 60 days in jail straight time or up to nine months in jail with work-release privileges.
Moore must register as a sex offender and will be on "sex offender intensive supervised probation" for up to the rest of his life and will be restricted from coming in contact with children.
He must pay restitution to the girl, give up "all computer equipment, hard drives, disks and any other storage devices," the agreement states.
Moore is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 15. He was handcuffed and led from the courtroom late Thursday.
Lighthouse officials did not return a call seeking comment.
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