Former Coach Accused of Having Sex with 12-year-old Girl in Church

By Erica Brecher
WGRZ
October 3, 2014

http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/investigations/2014/10/03/soccer-coach-arrested-for-sex-with-young-girl-at-church/16671785/

[with video]

Caleb Sexton is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old at their Cheektowaga church.

A Lancaster man faces child sex charges for his alleged sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl last year.

Caleb Sexton, 27, is charged by Cheektowaga Police with a criminal sexual act in the second degree, sexual abuse in the second degree, and child endangerment.

Police say this all took place at the Hedstrom Baptist church over a nine-month period last year.

That's where the relationship started. Sexton and his then-12 year-old victim met at church. Then they became friends on Facebook, where Cheektowaga police say the two often chatted.

"It ended up turning into a relationship where he took advantage of her trust," said assistant police chief Jim Speyer.

Police learned about the allegations after the victim's mother learned about their relationship and called police. "The young girl was very upset, confided in her mother what had happened," Speyer said.

Police say Sexton allegedly had sexual interactions with the girl in a secluded part of the church from January to September 2013.

According to police interviews, Sexton volunteered a lot his time there.

"Our detectives interviewed the pastor of the church. The pastor is this individual's father," Speyer said.

Not only is the pastor of the church Sexton's father, the principal of the West Seneca Christian School, where Sexton was a boys soccer coach, is his brother.

The superintendent confirmed that to 2 on Your Side on the phone.

Dr. Dana Cline said Sexton was a voluntary coach for a couple of years, and that the school has cut ties with him for the time being while the case is still under investigation.

Police and defense attorney Barry Covert agree it raises major red flags that Sexton had such access to both a school and a church with family members in high positions at both.

"It certainly should send chills in the community ... for the criminal sexual act in the second degree, he faces up to two-and-a-third to seven years' incarceration, so that's state jail time," Covert explained.

Police confirm that West Seneca Christian School and Hedstrom Baptist are related to some degree. In fact, the young victim attended the school in addition to the church, but her mother has since taken her out. Superintendent Cline said the only time Sexton was at the school at the end of the school day.

Covert says it makes no difference for Sexton, even if the girl's participation in the alleged sexual acts was not forced.

"Anyone who's under 15 is incapable of giving consent, so therefore there's no defense here that she somehow consented to this, which would be ridiculous, because she's a child," he said.

Cheektowaga police can only confirm that he allegedly victimized the one girl at this time, and that it happened at the church. Police added that their priority is the safety of all children and ask anyone with more information to give them a call because this case is still being investigated.