Jc Minister Backs out of Plea Deal in Alleged Sex Abuse Scandal

By Lindsey Rogers
WIBW
August 6, 2013

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Former-JC-Minister-Backs-Out-Of-Plea-Deal-In-Alleged-Child-Sex-Abuse-Scandal-218543141.html




JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (WIBW) -- At the last minute, a former Junction City minister opted not to take a plea deal in connection with sexual abuse allegations involving young boys in the church's congregation.

Jordan Young, 26, appeared in Geary County District Court Tuesday morning and was expected to plead guilty after agreeing to a negotiated settlement. Prosecutors said Young even signed the plea agreement Tuesday but when he walked into the courtroom, he informed the judge that he wanted to fire his attorney and that he did not want to move forward with the plea deal.

Young has been in jail for nearly a year after his arrest last August. The Junction City Police Department launched an investigation into reports of sexual misconduct at Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church where he’d been serving as the music minister. He is the son of former Faith Tabernacle pastor Edwin Young.

Assistant Geary County Attorney Michelle Brown says Young sexually abused underage males at Faith Tabernacle (located on Burke Drive in Junction City) and at the church’s school called the Apostolic Academy (located several miles away from the church on Rucker Road in Junction City), as well as “outside of both” of those locations from 2008 to 2012. Few other details have been released about the alleged child sex abuse. Facts of the case were supposed to be presented during Tuesday's hearing.

Michelle Brown previously said she can also connect Young to four other victims and that all 10 cases were to be incorporated into his plea agreement.

She has declined to discuss the terms of the plea deal but told WIBW that Young faced "extensive time" behind bars.

After the hearing Tuesday, the Geary County Attorney's Office had no comment on Young's case or the unexpected developments.

It is unknown why Young no longer wants Tom Lemon, a criminal defense attorney out of Topeka, to represent him anymore and why he wants a new lawyer.

Judge David Platt remanded Young's cases back to Magistrate Court and he is expected to appear in court again Thursday for possible appointment of new legal counsel and setting of a preliminary hearing.

He remains in custody.