Some Charges Dropped against Prison Chaplain, by John J. Moser, Morning Call, February 10, 2009

Some Charges Dropped against Prison Chaplain

By John J. Moser
Morning Call
February 10, 2009

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-chaplain-sex-assault-021009-cn,0,4854400.story

Schuylkill County Prison's suspended chaplain, who police say repeatedly molested a 14-year-old girl -- sometimes in a parsonage before Wednesday night services at two county churches for which he was pastor -- had six of the most serious charges against him dropped today.

Alan R. Sienkiewicz, 60, of Auburn had all counts of aggravated indecent assault dismissed at a hearing before District Judge James Ferrier of Orwigsburg. But he was ordered to face court action on the remaining charges -- three of felony indecent assault and three counts of corruption of minors. He remains free on $50,000 cash bail.

The Reverend Alan Sienkiewicz is shown outside his hearing in Orwigsburg on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo by Larry Neff

Prosecutors did not explain their reason for dropping the charges. Asked whether the girl's testimony had changed, Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serena declined comment. But aggravated indecent assault, unlike indecent assault, requires genital penetration.

"I did nothing," Sienkiewicz said as he left the courtroom. Asked whether he was happy with the hearing, he said, "I'm always happy. On the worst day I'm happy. I have Jesus."

Sienkiewicz allegedly assaulted the girl numerous times between Jan. 7, 2007, and April 1, 2008, in his home and in the parsonage at Grace Baptist Church in Ashland, one of the churches where he is the pastor, and other places in and out of the state, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven.

Sienkiewicz also is pastor of Christ Independent Church in Lavelle, which is about three miles from Grace Baptist Church in western Schuylkill County.

Sienkiewicz arrived at the hearing in a Grace Baptist Church van with a half-dozen supporters.

"Knowing pastor Alan, I don't think he did this," said one supporter, Farren Mathena, pastor of Keystone Baptist Church in East Greenville.

Sienkiewicz has been chaplain for nearly 10 years at the prison, where he coordinates scheduling of ministry programs, Warden Eugene Berdanier has said. The chaplain position is an unpaid, volunteer job. Sienkiewicz is suspended as chaplain until the case is resolved.