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	Pastor Found Not Guilty in Sexual Abuse Trial By Joe Swickard Detroit Free Press October 8, 2010 http://www.freep.com/article/20101008/NEWS02/10080367/1001/News/Pastor-found-not-guilty-in-sexual-abuse-trial A Detroit pastor accused of sexually assaulting a teen boy at his River Rouge home was acquitted by a Wayne County jury in about 90 minutes after a three-day trial. A 16-year-old boy testified that he was 15 when he had sex on two occasions with Russell Schaller. But defense attorney Charlotte Steffen-Ramirez argued the accusations were the result of a dispute over a truck and some cocaine that might have been hidden in it. Schaller, 35, was "on trial for a crime that never happened," Steffen-Ramirez said. The jurors told Circuit Judge Michael Hathaway there was "too much drama" surrounding the allegations. Steffen-Ramirez said they told her they didn't believe the teen's allegations. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Shannon Walker told jurors that Schaller was "a deceiver and manipulator" who used his position to mask his actions. The teen testified that he and other youngsters were allowed to hang out and even sleep over at Schaller's River Rouge home. Schaller was known, the youth said, as "a reverend -- somebody who could help." It was at a sleepover in 2009, he said, that he shared a bed with Schaller and had sex with him. He said he also had sex with him on another occasion. "He was giving me money all the time," and allowed him to use his Lincoln Town Car, the teen testified. The youth testified that he went to the police in December because he feared Schaller "would go after younger kids the next time." The youth was unable to pinpoint the time of the alleged encounters and told jurors he "picked random numbers" for them. Schaller was "very grateful" to jurors, Steffen-Ramirez said. "He said he needs to be careful and that there are people who will take advantage," she said. Contact JOE SWICKARD: 313-222-8769 or jswickard@freepress.com
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