By Lori Jane Gliha
ABC 15
April 15, 2009
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/westvalley/buckeye/story/ Second-arrest-made-in-Buckeye-pastor-sex-assault/3OVzrMkoOEGU7IX5_0jCaA.cspx
[with video]
A Buckeye church pastor is facing charges for sexually abusing some of his members and a second arrest has been made, according to police and court documents.
Charles Carfrey, the director and pastor at Choices church near 4th Street and Eason Avenue, is accused of forcing vulnerable females to perform sex acts on him and threatening them if they went to authorities.
According to court documents, some church members would sign over their paychecks to Carfrey, and he would distribute the money as he saw fit.
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| Charles Carfrey |
Police told ABC15 he's accused of threatening to not pay some women's bills if they didn't agree to the sex acts.
Buckeye police said they have been investigating Carfrey since 2005.
"It's an odd case," said Det. Doug Dodge of the Buckeye Police Department. "Several of the victims called the church a cult."
"It's one of these things that makes you scratch your head," said Dodge, explaining that Carfrey was once convicted in Oregon for molesting a minor.
"We have a ton of follow-up to do. I'm expecting more victims and possibly more arrests," he said.
Carfrey is currently facing one count of running a criminal syndicate, two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of sexual abuse.
According to Dodge, the first charge occurs when a group forms for the purpose of committing criminal actions. He said witnesses told police a purpose of the church was to satisfy the sexual needs and desires of Carfrey.
Court paperwork indicates Carfrey, meanwhile, denied the allegations when he was arrested on March 20, 2009. He also refused to take a polygraph test.
Neighbors who live near the church told ABC15 Carfrey seemed friendly and the people who attend the church are really nice people.
ABC15 tried to speak to a few members of the church, but two people refused to reveal any information about the organization.
One church member nodded that she was surprised by the allegations.
Another woman, who had received a prayer from Carfrey during what she called a candle party, said she didn't believe the organization is a cult.
On Tuesday, the Buckeye Police Department in conjunction with the U.S. Marshall's Service Child Predator Apprehension Team, served several search warrants within and outside of the Buckeye Town limits to gather additional evidence concerning the arrest of Carfrey.
The properties were reportedly locations Carfrey either owned or extensively used.
Debra Hinkley, who is the assistant director for Choices Church, was arrested at her home in Tonapah during the service of the warrants for a variety of charges.
Hinkley was arrested for allegedly Hindering Prosecution and Influencing a Witness due to threats and bullying behavior to one of the adult witnesses.
Hinkley had also attempted to hide evidence and was also charged for resisting arrest when officers attempted to serve her with a search warrant at her home in Tonapah, according to officials.
Police said Hinkley refused to let officers in and fought with officers once they attempted to take her into custody.
In searching Hinkley's residence, officers discovered a device that apparently appeared to be an explosive.
The item was seized by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and later destroyed.
Police said that since the device appeared to be an explosive device intended to prevent officers from conducting the warrant, Hinkley was also charged with Simulating an Explosive Device.
Evidence was collected at the sites that were searched, but the evidence has not been analyzed at the time of this release.
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