Church Janitor Posed As Youth Leader, Abused Young Girls

The Star-Tribune
February 28, 2013

http://trib.com/news/local/casper/police-church-janitor-posed-as-youth-leader-abused-young-girls/article_94f91165-2b91-5721-a4b4-9016abe43733.html

MEGAN CASSIDY Star-Tribune

Posing as a youth group leader, James David Jaure was able to gain the girls’ trust, witnesses told police. He was always at the group meetings on Wednesday nights, talking and counseling the children.

In reality, Jaure was the Highland Park Church janitor with a criminal record. In 2004, the now-28-year-old, also known by the last name “Juare,” was convicted of third-degree sexual assault of a minor in Cheyenne. He is now living in Evansville.

Upon learning this information, parents and other youth workers at the church expressed concern about Jaure’s Wednesday night presence and his particular interest in the young girls.

On Feb. 7, a father reported Jaure to Casper police. His daughter told a forensic interviewer she had been sexually assaulted by Jaure in the church’s basement.

In the end, two more girls told officials they, too, had fallen victim to varying degrees of molestation by Jaure. The alleged victims were aged 11, 12 and 15, said Assistant District Attorney Trevor Schenk.

Police say Jaure acted scared and nervous during his interview and told police he didn’t want to be in jail, away from his fiancee and the people who need him. He admitted to giving the alleged victims advice, and corroborated one girl’s story that she had slept at his home on several occasions, the affidavit states.

When confronted about the allegations of sexual assaults, police say Jaure asked if he was under arrest. The interview concluded.

Jaure made his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon and waived an official reading of his charges. Circuit Judge Michael Huber obliged, and left the court file open to the public. Sexual-assault case files are often sealed.

The state charged Jaure with three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Huber ordered a $100,000 cash or surety bond. Jaure will receive a preliminary hearing to determine whether the case will move forward to District Court.