Alleged Sexual Abuse at Sterling Church under Investigation

WUSA
March 27, 2015

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/virginia/2015/03/26/sexual-abuse-temple-church-sterling-investigation/70497084/

Officials are investigating an alleged sexual abuse that happened at the Calvary Temple Church in Sterling, Va., according to Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

Calvary Temple Ministries has been investigated for years. But the case recently re-opened after former members spoke out.

"We understand the concerns of the public, and we want to ensure everyone that we take all allegations of abuse seriously and these crimes will be investigated to their fullest extent," said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.

No one at the church has been charged. WUSA9 reached out to the pastor but was unavailable to comment.

People who have left the church say you're expected to come to church. They describe Calvary Temple as controlling, abusive, a brainwashing cult.

Kaitlyn Skeeters is the granddaughter of head pastor Star Scott through marriage. She says because of her alleged sexual abuse, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation a decade ago that resulted in no charges.

"Adults who knew I was being abused turned their heads. They lie and turn everybody against you," Skeeters said.

Skeeters alleges that her mother saw the pastor tough her inappropriately.

"At this age you're not aware, my mother saw him touch me inappropriately.

She said when I got off his lap she saw his fingers reach across my private area," Skeeters described.

Skeeters said she's not only haunted by the alleged sexual abuse but that physical and emotional abuse runs in the family.

People who have left the church say members are trapped in a painful cycle of abuse and don't even know it.

"My abuse story is horrible there are still other children in there," Skeeters said.

When Andrew Lawrence left the church last year, his parents stopped speaking to him and his wife left him. Lawrence is now fighting for custody of his two small children.

"I'm scared of the sexual abuse and how these children are told how to live," Lawrence said.

More than half a dozen alleged victims told WUSA9 that they want Calvary Temple's dark secrets exposed.

"The justice that needs to be brought to Star Scott and all these people making pretty penny justice needs to be brought now, " Lawrence said.

Detectives from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Sex Crimes Unit are asking anyone who has any information regarding this investigation to call the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.