Prosecutor: Pastor ‘controlled everybody’

By Brent Weisberg
KOIN
April 14, 2015

http://koin.com/2015/04/14/prosecutor-pastor-controlled-everybody/

Michael Sperou, the pastor of a Clackamas church, faces sex charges (June 2014, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) – The trial of a senior pastor for the North Clackamas Bible Community reportedly linked to sex crimes began on Tuesday as prosecutors outlined their case during opening statements at the Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse.

Pastor Michael Sperou, 64, walked confidently into Judge Cheryl A. Albrecht’s courtroom Tuesday morning wearing a white dress shirt, dress pants and a tie. He has remained out of custody since posting bail pending trial. He was arrested June 19, 2014 by federal officers.

Deputy district attorney Christine Mascal told the jury that “Pastor Mike,” as he is known in his church, “controlled everything and everybody.” She outlined the “tortured history” and years of alleged sexual touching at the hands of Sperou.

Sperou is charged with three counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the first-degree. The alleged abuse occurred three separate times between May 1995 and December 1996, Mascal said. Police identified a total of seven victims who made claims against Sperou, Mascal said. The statute of limitations has expired for six of those people.

Sperou is represented by Steven J. Sherlag. In his opening statements, Sherlag said about 20 years ago “the seeds of false accusations” were planted in the small faith community “designed to bring down Michael Sperou.” He told the jury that the evidence in the trial will show the allegations were made on “false memories.”

Sperou served with the United States Army and deployed in the Vietnam War, Sherlag said, adding that Sperou suffered “deep wounds to the flesh and spirit.”

Mascal said that Sperou started the Southeast Portland Bible Church in 1980. The church’s name was then changed to North Clackamas Bible Church in 1997, Mascal said. The group did not have a headquartered location, Mascal said. Instead, they could meet at homes throughout the metro, including one in Southeast Portland.

Sherlag said “there were struggles…and sins” in the small faith group Sperou ran, “but not these crimes.” He said the church’s goal was to offer guidance and help foster friendships.

He said the church Sperou ran was never a “cult.” He described it as an “orthodox” place where they study scripture.

Sperou, born in California, resides in Happy Valley with his wife, Judy, of 16 years, court records show.

The trial is scheduled to run through April 29.