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	Conway Hearing Packed By Nate Giarnese Keene Sentinel June 3, 2010 http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/06/03/news/local/free/id_402521.txt Church officials are accused of failing to report sexual abuse CONWAY — A pastor and two church elders from Valley Christian Church appeared in Conway’s district court Tuesday on charges of failing to report allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl. Three elders from the Baptist church, arrested in February, are Robert Gagnon, 69, of Brownfield, Maine, Michael Wedge, 37, of Conway, and Richard Eland, 61, of Brownfield. Also arrested was church pastor Tim Dillmuth, 33. Dillmuth and Eland spent a night in jail before posting bail. Wedge, who was scheduled for a later court date, did not appear Tuesday. Defense lawyers argued that rigorous religious protections in New Hampshire’s constitution shield the church officials from a “vague and over-broad” law requiring them to report allegations of child abuse to authorities. The lawyers took aim at the law and the Conway police investigation that led to the arrests. Dillmuth’s lawyer Rick St. Hilaire said police used the rarely prosecuted law to “target” only church officials, while numerous parishioners knew of the allegations. “What is triggered now are issues of freedom of speech, free expression of religion,” said St. Hilaire. County prosecutor Steven Murray retorted that only the officials had the most direct knowledge of the allegations and the reporting mandate is “not ambiguous.” The defense lawyers also said police failed to turn over discovery evidence, including videos, records showing Miranda warnings were read and a search warrant in the underlying abuse case. They also said police reports were incomplete or unclear. Nobody has yet been arrested and charged with sexual abuse.
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