The Clarion-Ledger
August 16, 2011
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A former metro-area resident has lodged a complaint with the Clinton Police Department accusing a former school choir teacher and music minister in Clinton of sexually molesting him when he was a child.
The complainant, a man who now lives out of state, alleges he was sexually abused by John Langworthy about 20 years ago in the Clinton area, Clinton Police Chief Don Byington said Monday. The alleged victim would have been about 10-12 years old at the time, police said.
The man has not signed an affidavit that could result in charges against Langworthy, Byington said. In Mississippi, there is no statute of limitations on such charges against a person who is in a position of trust.
"We are still in the investigative stage," said Byington, who would not disclose the alleged victim's identity. The Clarion-Ledger does not name victims of sexual assault.
"We received information late Friday from an individual living out of state about allegations of misconduct that occurred some 20 years ago," Byington said.
"We can't release any details, but the victim is willing to cooperate with us on this investigation."
Langworthy could not be reached for comment.
Langworthy was choir director of the Clinton High Arrow Singers and also is former minister of music at Clinton's Morrison Heights Baptist Church. Before the congregation during the Aug. 7 services, he admitted to past sexual indiscretions with teenage boys in Mississippi and Texas.
Langworthy told congregants he moved to Mississippi because of sexual indiscretions more than two decades ago at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
He resigned from his Morrison Heights position in May. He did not return to the high school this fall as director of the Arrow Singers choir.
Houston, Texas resident Amy Smith, a ministry intern at Prestonwood during Langworthy's time there, wrote to Clinton school district and Morrison Heights leaders when she learned he was a Clinton district teacher.
"It takes great courage, and it is very healing, for a victim to step forward," Smith, who heads the Houston, Texas, chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Monday. "He sends a very strong message to any child being abused that it is OK to tell."
SNAP is a national organization for victims of sexual abuse by clergy of any denomination, not just priests.
In a statement made Aug. 10, the school district confirmed Superintendent Phil Burchfield had known of the allegations against Langworthy since August 2010. The district "had no evidence, other than allegations, that the conduct had actually taken place, and the employee never admitted to the district that the conduct happened," its statement said.
The district has referred all other questions to its attorney, Jim Keith, who said there have been no complaints against Langworthy during his tenure with the district.
To comment on this story email Ruth Ingram at ringram@clarionledger.com
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