Pastor Charged with Sexual Harassment, Stalking

By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle
December 13, 2012

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=434677

Aron Andonie

A pastor at Spring Valley Church of God in Muhlenberg Township was charged Tuesday with sexually harassing and stalking a 21-year-old female parishioner, authorities said.

Aron Andonie, 47, who has been the pastor of Spring Valley's Romanian congregation since 2004, was charged by Cumru Township police with harassment, lewd communication and stalking. Police said the offenses occurred between April and November while the victim worked at a business in Cumru.

According to court documents:

Andonie of the 1800 block of Hancock Boulevard, Kenhorst, called the woman at her office shortly after she was hired and told her she was "a hot girl."

He refused to identify himself, but said he saw her coming to work and that she would get a better position and pay if she was not disrespectful to him. He told her to wear short skirts and heels to work and said he sent a gift card to her home. The calls then became more sexual in nature.

Police said they identified Andonie through the phone number from which the calls were sent.

Andonie told police he found the cellphone on the parking lot of a shopping center. He said he called about 25 women, mostly those he had met through his work at the church. He said he met some of the women while they worked at local stores. He told police the calls and messages were pranks.

Andonie said he did not intend to threaten or hurt the women and that he should have stopped sooner and identified himself. He said he threw the phone away to avoid being caught.

Andonie has not been charged in any other calls. Reading police and Berks County detectives also are investigating.

Police asked anyone who may have been contacted by him using the telephone number 484-219-8625 to call Lt. Todd Trupp of the county detectives at 610-478-7171, ext. 6012.

Church officials could not be reached for comment. Arraignment information was unavailable.

Contact Jason A. Kahl: 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com