Pastor convicted for molesting grandchildren

By Mark Belcher
WIVB
January 26, 2015

http://wivb.com/2015/01/26/pastor-accused-of-sex-abuse-found-guilty/

ALBION, N.Y. (WIVB) – An Orleans County pastor charged with sex abuse was found guilty in court Monday.

It was the moment some family members had waited forty years for. An Orleans County jury found 71 year old Reverend Roy Harriger guilty of two counts of Course of Sexual conduct for molesting two of his grand children. In fact at least 15 people, mostly relatives, signed affidavits stating that he had molested them as children. They each thought they were the only ones.

“Through all of this, it has made all of us stronger, my cousins, all of us. We’re a lot stronger than what we were”) said Ashley, one of the pastor’s nieces.

The pastor’s daughter-in-law, Teresa Harriger said her son who is in the Army can enjoy life now.”because he knows that his Grandpa got guilty. His sister just called him and said ‘Just so you know Grandpa’s guilty and Robby started crying, he said ‘Thank God”.

Harriger was charged more than a year ago, but continues to preach every Sunday at Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek. In fact, Judge James Punch has allowed him to remain free on the quarter million dollars bail that he posted.

The pastor’s son, Robert Harriger says his father should not be on the streets. “He’s found guilty of child molestation. That man should not be on the streets.”

“He’s a flight risk” says anotehr son, George Harriger. “He could hurt my Mom he could hurt other people and stuff, he’s on the streets for eight more weeks until sentencing. This is just wrong. He should not be on the streets.”

Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone admits he has concerns about Harriger remaing free on bail. “but this case did take several months to get tried and there hasn’t been a problem, and I hope that there’s not.”

acting state Supreme Court Justice James Punch has allowed Harriger to remain free until he is sentenced on April 6. Before he was convicted, he was free on $250,000 bail, but was unable to be around people under 18-years-old.