Supporters Accompany Pastor Charged with Sex Abuse to Court

Niagara Gazette
December 5, 2013

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/x1566989327/Supporters-accompany-pastor-charged-with-sex-abuse-to-court

A small group of Community Fellowship Church members accompanied their pastor into Town of Yates Court on Wednesday night in a show of support.

The Rev. Roy Harriger Sr. is facing charges of molesting children.

About eight members of the Community Fellowship Church in the Town of Hartland accompanied the 70-year-old pastor into Town of Yates Court where he pleaded not guilty to charges of incest and sodomy of a young boy and girl about 12 years ago.

Harriger is free on bail after posting a quarter million dollars bail last week. His supporters have a hard time believing the charges against him.

Supporter Donna Kidney does not believe the allegations.

"He'll bend over backwards to help people and I think these charges are ridiculous," she told Channel 4 News. "I know he did not do it. He's innocent. I know in my spirit that he's innocent."

Added Christina Hare, "All I want is just for everybody to pray who believes that the truth comes out. We stand behind our pastor 100 percent."

Neither the pastor nor his attorney had any comment Wednesday night. Yates Town Justice Donald Grabowski issued an order of protection for the two accusers who are now in their late teens.

Harriger is due back in court January 15.