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| Pastor Goes on Trial Soon
SNAP
September 30, 2013
http://www.snapnetwork.org/nv_pastor_goes_on_trial_soon
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
-- disclose that minister who has headed two Las Vegas churches faces a trial soon on multiple child sex abuse charges, and
-- prod officials and members at his church to reach out to others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.
WHEN
TODAY, Monday, Sept. 30 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Las Vegas Valley Christian Church, 3140 S. Durango Dr., Las Vegas, NV (702) 644-9435
WHO
Two members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder and long time president
WHY
In December 2012, Rev. Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Morales of Las Vegas was indicted on four counts of sex abuse and six counts of sex offense. At that time, Morales pastored Las Vegas Valley Christian Church in Las Vegas, according to a police report. He also reportedly headed the Open Door Community Church in Las Vegas.
Morales trial is set for Nov 18. The indictment was handed down by Montgomery County Maryland State’s Attorney John T. McCarthy.
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Two months ago, Morales, 55, was indicted again on one count of sex abuse and three counts of sex offense. These new indictments bring the total to 14 and include victims that span a period of 12 years. Combined, the charges against Morales carrying a penalty of 180 years.
Morales’ alleged sex acts took place between 1985 and 1990 at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, which is named in a high profile civil class action lawsuit alleging a cover-up of sex abuse allegations. It charges that Rev. C.J. Mahaney and other pastors at the church conspired to cover up Morales’ crimes and that Morales’ crimes continued after several pastors were made aware of his abuses.
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SNAP believes that church officials at both places Morales worked in Las Vegas should aggressively reach out to current and former members and staff of their congregations and see if anyone else may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by Morales.
One indictment alleges that Morales’ first reported offence occurred in 1979.
At least one of Morales’ victims is represented by Washington DC Susan Burke (202.386.9622, 281.362.1411, 203. 299.1140)
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Rev. Brent Detwiler, a co-founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries, has broken with the group and is now an outspoken critic of some of the defendants on his blog, BrentDetwiler.com (abrentdetwiler@gmail.com)
Morales’ last known contact information is: 3125 Villa Colonade Drive, Las Vegas, nate@v2c2.org, 702-561-9082. According to his on-line biography, Morales is a 1995 graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
He is represented by Rockville MD attorney Alan C. Drew (301-563-8910).
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CONTACT
Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747 SNAPblaine@gmail.com, David Clohessy 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com
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