BishopAccountability.org
	Second Victim Files Charges against Mahwah Assistant Minister Mahwah Suburban News December 3, 2009 http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/78471992.html MAHWAH--Additional complaints were filed Dec. 3 against an assistant pastor of Mahwah Full Gospel Church, 133 Grove St., after a second woman came forward alleging she was sexually assaulted by him as a minor while serving as a volunteer youth minister for the church. Curtis Franklin, 44, of 126 Grove St., was originally arrested Dec. 1. He was charged with sexual assault and other crimes by a 21-year-old woman who claimed he had engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" with her at a Mahwah residence on at least three occasions six years ago when she was 15. According to the prosecutor's office, Franklin met the alleged victim while a volunteer youth minister at the church. The incidents went unreported until November. Police Chief James Batelli, said Franklin was interviewed by members of his department on Dec. 1 at the police station, and subsequently arrested. Franklin surrendered his passport under orders from Judge Harry G. Carroll, and was remanded to Bergen County Jail after his arraignment in Mahwah. Franklin's first set of charges included one count of sexual assault in the second degree, one count of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree and one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree. A spokeswoman for the Criminal Division of the Bergen County Superior Court, said Franklin's father-in-law, J.D. Walker, pastor at the church, posted his original $75,000 bail Dec. 2. After the first arrest, Molinelli would not comment on whether Franklin had any previous criminal history, but said "we don't anticipate other victims" to come forward. However, a second woman subsequently came forward with additional charges that were filed Thursday, Dec. 3. Molinelli subsequently charged Franklin with additional complaints of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child as a result of a continued investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit, under the direction of Acting Chief John Palotta, and the Mahwah Police Department, under the direction of Chief Batelli. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Mahwah Police Department reportedly learned that Curtis Franklin had sexually assaulted a second female he met while serving as a volunteer to the youth ministry. The second female reported that the sexual assaults began when she was 12 years old and continued until she was over the age of 16. The victim is now an adult. These incidents occurred at different locations in Mahwah, and were unreported until Dec. 2. Based on the new allegations against Franklin he was charged with two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, one count of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree. Bail on the new complaints was set by the Hon. Harry G. Carroll, P.J.S.C., at $150,000, no 10 percent, no contact with the victim and the surrender of his passport. It was not clear at press time if Franklin remained free on bail or was returned to jail. According to second degree sexual assault, the most serious of the charges, carries a jail sentence of between five and ten years, with a possible fine up to $150,000. Pastor Walker had no comment when contacted by Suburban News. Repeated phone calls to Franklin's residence were not answered. Franklin's office phone at the church has been disconnected.
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