Investigation into pastor, former police officer extends to multiple counties

By Chelsea Kopta
KATU
January 7, 2015

http://www.katu.com/news/investigators/Investigation-into-pastor-former-police-officer-extends-to-multiple-counties--287756251.html

GRESHAM, Ore. -- The investigation into James Worley, an evangelical pastor and former Tillamook police officer who's now accused of child sex crimes, extends to several other counties across the state of Oregon, KATU's On Your Side Investigators learned Tuesday.

Worley was already indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury last month but on Tuesday, KATU confirmed that Oregon State Police is investigating other allegations of abuse in counties where Worley lived and worked.

The OSP, which is the lead agency in the Worley investigation, would not specify which counties they were focusing on.

The indictment filed Dec. 16 in Deschutes County charges Worley with 37 counts, including two counts of rape, 20 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts of sodomy, one count of attempted sodomy and three counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. The alleged abuse occurred between Sept. 1, 2002 and June 30, 2004 while the children were under the ages of 14 and 12, according to the indictment.

In Deschutes County, officials would not reveal how Worley knew the alleged victims. However, a source KATU spoke with on Tuesday, who knew Worley well during the time of the allegations, said Worley did not have contact with the kids through his work.

Worley, 42, has been a senior pastor at Powell Valley Church in Gresham since 2012, according to the church's website.

The On Your Side Investigators made calls to several district attorneys' offices, including Clackamas, Multnomah and Tillamook, the latter of which confirmed it was investigating Worley.

Tillamook County District Attorney William Porter said his office received a report - alleging sexual abuse claims against Worley - more than four months ago.
 
"My (Chief Deputy District Attorney) CDDA asked local OSP for follow-up interviews regarding incidents that might have occurred in Tillamook County," Porter said via email to KATU. "I understand that the interviews were completed in late November, but as yet no report has come in w/ that info."

Monday, KATU uncovered that Worley was a Tillamook police officer from Sept. 1, 2005 to Nov. 3, 2006 but his badge was revoked in 2007 for ongoing misconduct, according to city of Tillamook records obtained by the On Your Side Investigators.

Greg Horner, a spokesman for the Clackamas County DA, said he was not aware of any investigation into Worley. Calls to the Multnomah County DA's office were not immediately returned Tuesday.

"It is our hope that these accusations are not true"

Members of the Powell Valley Church sent On Your Side Investigator Chelsea Kopta an email statement Tuesday, which they said was authored by their Covenant denomination. The statement reads:

"We are saddened by Jamie Worley's arrest and it is our hope that these accusations are not true. But if they are, we take them very seriously and are deeply concerned for all those involved. No further comment is possible at this time given the unfolding nature of this case. We ask that you respect the Worley family's privacy as they deal with the shock of this situation. We also ask that you would join us in prayer for all involved."

Did Worley have a connection to kids in school?

KATU also checked to see if Worley had a connection with the Gresham-Barlow School District after a parent expressed concerns that Worley led prayer groups for youth at Sam Barlow High School.

District spokeswoman Athena Vadnais said via email, "We checked with staff at Sam Barlow High School---Mr. Worley has not led any student prayer groups or student bible studies. He has not served as a basketball coach and is not employed by the school district." 

However, KATU received an email late Tuesday that suggested otherwise.

"I would like to remain an unnamed student at Sam Barlow High School," the email stated. "I can confirm that in  fact Worley did host a worship during lunches at our school. He also held a bible study after school. As I student I can say that the process to get someone inside our school is extraordinarily easy. Worley had open contact with hundred of students at any time. There are no rules or regulations on where a visitor can be in the school. The application process to be a volunteer is deeply flawed, and not extensive. The church is just down the road from our school, and many students attend there. The contact between Worley and students is unsupervised, and he is free to walk anywhere on school grounds."

In a second email the student added, "I would like to clarify what I mean by hundreds of students at a time. The prayer groups were not nearly that big, from the ones I saw I would say maybe 20 students. The hundreds was meant that it was during lunches when hundreds of students were out of class. He had free roam to contact hundreds of students during that lunch period."

KATU followed up with the district, looking for a comment but, as of late Tuesday, did not immediately receive a response about this email.

Also, KATU found that Powell Valley Church, along with several other local churches, took part in a community outreach event last year at Sam Barlow High School. Students were invited to attend.

In response to questions about this event, Vadnais told KATU, "On one day in August, churches from throughout the community, along with other volunteers (Parent-Teacher Clubs) spruce up school grounds by doing pruning, spreading bark dust, painting, and the like. It is a one day event at every school in our community before school starts for the year and many churches participate."

Tuesday, Worley was transported back to Deschutes County jail to face charges. His first court appearance is expected Wednesday afternoon.