Defense witnesses say church didn't discuss sex-abuse allegations against Happy Valley pastor

By Rick Bella
Oregonian
April 23, 2015

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2015/04/post_185.html

Jackie Mitchell, sister of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou, testified for the defense on Apr. 23, 2015 in Multnomah County court where Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

Defense testimony in the trial of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou (shown talking with attorney Steven Sherlag) ended for the week, on Apr. 23, 2015, and will pick up again next Monday in the court of Multnomah County judge Cheryl Albrecht. Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

Defense testimony in the trial of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou ended for the week, on Apr. 23, 2015, and will pick up again next Monday in the court of Multnomah County judge Cheryl Albrecht. Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

Defense testimony in the trial of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou ended for the week, on Apr. 23, 2015, and will pick up again next Monday in the court of Multnomah County judge Cheryl Albrecht (shown). Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

Defense testimony in the trial of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou ended for the week, on Apr. 23, 2015, and will pick up again next Monday in the court of Multnomah County judge Cheryl Albrecht. Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

Portland pyschologist Wendy Bourg testified for the defense in the trial of Happy Valley pastor Mike Sperou ended for the week, on Apr. 23, 2015, and will pick up again next Monday in the court of Multnomah County judge Cheryl Albrecht. Sperou is on trial on sex abuse charges.

The defense in the trial for Happy Valley Pastor Mike Sperou called several witnesses Thursday who said they didn't recall any detailed discussions by church members of the child sex-abuse allegations against him in 1997.

Sperou's sister, Jackie Mitchell, a teacher in the North Clackamas Bible Community, told a Multnomah County jury she never saw any children in his room. She also said she didn't know why Jennifer Olajuyin and Jessica Watson, who grew up in the church, were interviewed by police detectives.

"I didn't know very much about it," said Mitchell, who is married to Associate Pastor Kevin Mitchell. "I heard they were questioned."

Under cross-examination, Mitchell said she had not heard that her brother had inappropriately kissed her daughter – his niece. Other defense witnesses earlier said Sperou had taken responsibility for his actions and had apologized.

Mitchell also said under cross-examination that she had given birth to an illegitimate child fathered by Assistant Pastor Bill Hartman.  

Longtime church members Wendy Baker and her husband, Roger Baker, echoed much of Mitchell's testimony, saying they hadn't heard any details shortly after seven girls complained Sperou had abused them.

Sperou, 64, the church's senior pastor and co-founder, has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual penetration of a child under the age of 12. If convicted on all counts, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years and four months in prison.

Seven women allege that Sperou sexually abused them when they were young girls growing up in the church during the 1980s and 1990s. The Oregonian/OregonLive generally does not disclose the names of possible sexual abuse victims. But all seven women who testified against Sperou in the trial have asked that their stories be told.

Thursday's session was the third day of the defense case presented by attorney Steven J. Sherlag. It came after five days of prosecution testimony presented by Deputy District Attorney Chris Mascal.

Both sides are expected to make their closing arguments Wednesday, when the case would go to the jury.