Church Janitor Faces Sex Abuse Charges in District Court
By Megan Cassidy
The church janitor who reportedly posed as a youth leader and sexually assaulted three underage girls will soon face District Court. Convicted sex offender James David Jaure is faced with five new charges involving sexual abuse of a minor. The 29-year-old worked at Highland Park Community Church as a custodian but would frequent the youth group meetings on Wednesday nights, his arrest affidavit states. Children and parents were reportedly under the impression he was a youth group leader. Jaure opted to go through with his preliminary hearing Thursday morning. Four middle-aged adults and one girl watched from the gallery. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Stensaas and defense attorney Dion Custis questioned Casper Police Detective Gary Kassay, who is familiar with the case. Kassay reviewed the contents of the affidavit, in which three girls — ages 11, 12 and 15 — said Juare had molested them. Custis attempted to argue that many of the alleged victims’ statements were uncorroborated, and therefore the related charges did not meet the court’s burden to bind the case over to District Court. Natrona County Circuit Judge Steven Brown disagreed and sent the all five charges over. He additionally continued the bond at $100,000, cash or surety. Jaure will enter a plea an upcoming arraignment hearing in Natrona County District Court.
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