Deacon at Fairview Heights Church Accused of Sexually Abusing Boys

By Paul Hampel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
February 13, 2014

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/baptist-church-deacon-charged-with-sexually-abusing-minors/article_da815e34-3f20-5fda-a14a-c610c792878a.html

Jeffrey Strait

A deacon at a Baptist church in Fairview Heights is accused of sexually abusing boys from youth groups at his home in Shiloh.

Jeffrey Strait, 47, was charged Wednesday in St. Clair County Circuit Court with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of minors. He was jailed with bail set at $500,000.

The charges allege that he abused children who were older than 13 but under 17, at his home in the 2700 block of Lake Lucerne Drive.

Police said he is a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights, and that he met the victims through his work with youth groups.

“We are confident that none of these acts were committed at the First Baptist Church and that no other personnel at the church knew that the offenses were being committed,” Shiloh police said in statement.

Police Sgt. Kyle Bade said that all of the victims known to authorities are boys. He said the crimes began in 2008 and continued until recently.

Police said they began the investigation Feb. 7 with one victim and that four others have since come forward,

The pastor, Jim Kerr, said he was not sure how long Strait had been associated with the church. “I came here two years ago and (Strait) was here before me,” Kerr said. He declined to comment further.

In an email, Kerr stated, “As a church family, we grieve for anyone who may have been victimized and pray for their total healing.”

Police ask that anyone with additional information call them at 618-632-9047.

phampel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-81042