New Details about the Church Youth Group Leader Charged with Sexual Abuse of Teens

By Berkeley Brean
WHEC
June 6, 2015

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S3817919.shtml?cat=565

[with video]


A Hollywood music producer is accused of sexually abusing teenage boys in Rochester.

Police say the abuse happened inside Roy Battle's home in the city over three and a half years from 2009 to mid 2012. But during that time, police say Battle was affiliated with a church in Chili and that his alleged victims were teenagers at the church.

Police will not release his mugshot even though we asked for it several times, but we know he was indicted on ten counts of sexual abuse in March. The district attorney's office says he posted bail after his arraignment. That's why police told us about Battle's indictment now. They're concerned there are more victims out there.

Officers want the families of those children -- if they exist -- to call Investigator O'Shaughnessy at (585)428-9379.

Friday, we worked to learn more about Battle. In a 2012 documentary, using the stage name "Battle Roy," he talks about getting involved in local Rochester churches.

In the documentary, Battle says, "I got asked, invited actually, to go to a church called Victory Baptist church in Henrietta."

"We went from there to Open Door Baptist church," said Battle.

The pastor of Open Door Church said he was contacted by police last summer about the sex abuse allegations. Pastor Bill Finnerty didn't agree to speak with us on-camera, but he did provide a statement. He says he contacted the families of potential victims and encouraged them to call police.

In the statement, Pastor Finnerty writes the church staff and families are deeply saddened and appalled by the actions of Roy Battle. The indictment says the sex abuse of two teenage boys started in February of 2009 and ended in August 2012. It says the victims were "incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless." The district attorney's office says it means one of two things: either the alleged victims were sleeping or made to be unconscious.

District Attorney Sandra Doorley says, "The first thing that comes to mind is it can happen to anyone, anywhere. And everyone must be vigilant in their watch over their children."

Berkeley Brean: "He was granted bail. Do you know if he's back in California or is he in Rochester?"

Doorley: "You know, I don't know that."

We went to Battle's old home in the city -- where police say the abuse happened. No one was there and the neighbors didn't remember him. On Twitter, @BattleRoy2's last tweet was May 15 and it read "trying not to be bitter." When News10NBC sent him a tweet asking for a comment, we were immediately blocked. Now the account is gone.

Police say the abuse happened inside Battle's home and not at any church. Again, the timeline is from February 2009 to August 2012. That's when he left for California. Again, Rochester police want concerned families to call Investigator O'Shaughnessy at 428-9379.

We talked to the pastor at Victory Baptist Church in Henrietta. He's pretty sure Battle had left his church before 2009.