By Christine Ferretti
Detroit News
June 25, 2010
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100624/METRO03/6240444/1361/Warren-pastor-in-sex-case-arraigned-on-new-charges
Warren -- A Baptist Church pastor accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy was arraigned this morning in Warren District Court on new allegations of misconduct.
Antioch Baptist Church pastor Christopher Settlemoir, 26, is now charged with two counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes stemming from incidents involving two other children "affiliated with the (church's) school," Police Commissioner William Dwyer said.
Dwyer and prosecutors are declining to disclose the gender or age of the additional alleged victims. Police have also refused to discuss what acts are alleged to have occurred, and when. Court records indicate the crimes were allegedly committed between Sept. 1, 2009, and April 20, 2010.
The four-year felony offense generally involves inappropriate conduct including text messages, e-mail or photographs. It does not include physical contact, police say.
The new charges were announced during what was expected to be Settlemoir's preliminary hearing on charges of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct on allegations he forced a boy, 15, to participate in sex acts. He faces up to life in prison if convicted on those allegations.
A new preliminary examination on all three cases was set for July 22.
"It's very disturbing," Dwyer said. "We have these victims that will be scarred for life emotionally."
Settlemoir's attorney, Stephen Rabaut, who said he took on the case Wednesday, declined to comment.
During the hearing, Rabaut did note that Settlemoir, who has no prior criminal record, is married and has served as a pastor at the church for about two years.
Police say Settlemoir, who is also principal of the church's small school, Antioch Baptist Academy, made "some admissions" about the original case. He has not commented on the additional allegations, Dwyer said.
Police claim the pastor had been "grooming" the 15-year-old boy -- a parishioner and student at the school-- since Feb. 1.
The teen's mother came to police earlier this month with evidence that her son had been sexually assaulted. The evidence, police say, included alleged text messages between her son and Settlemoir.
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The pastor turned himself in to police the following day, after a search warrant was executed at his Warren home and the church near 13 Mile and Dequindre. Police seized two laptops that are believed to contain photographs and correspondence that could lead to additional charges.
The computers were turned over to the Macomb Area Computer Enforcement Unit with the sheriff's office. Dwyer said investigators hope to have analysis completed by Friday or early next week. Their contents could result in even more charges, Dwyer said.
The two other alleged victims came forward shortly after Settlemoir was charged in the first case.
Settlemoir has been placed on a paid administrative leave by the church.
He remains jailed on a $1 million cash bond in connection with the first case. Today, a $100,000 cash surety bond was set for the two additional charges.
Contact: cferretti@detnews.com
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