Wentzville school worker, youth pastor charged with child molestation

By Susan Weich
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 8, 2015

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/wentzville-school-worker-youth-pastor-charged-with-child-molestation/article_ca8312b5-2f57-55e7-a671-8575a38737aa.html

Cameron Patterson, of Lake Saint Louis, was charged with two counts of child molestation. He is an employee of the Wentzville School District and a youth pastor at a baptist church in Ballwin.

LAKE SAINT LOUIS • A 26-year old supervisor of a before-and-after school program who also works as a youth pastor was charged Wednesday with two counts of felony child molestation.

Cameron Patterson, of the first block of Quail Meadows Court in Lake Saint Louis, has worked for the Wentzville School District’s Chautauqua Program since November 2012.

A statement released by the district said that the allegations did not involve a student of the school district. Mary LaPak, a spokeswoman for the district, said Patterson had been placed on administrative leave.

Patterson also was employed as a youth pastor at Ballwin Baptist Church, but Pastor David Rubemeyer said Wednesday afternoon that Patterson was no longer employed there.

He said that church officials conducted a full background check on Patterson before he was hired, as they do for all employees. He said the alleged victim was not associated with the church.

According to court records, the charges involve one victim who allegedly was sexually assaulted by Patterson hundreds of times over a period of five years. The alleged victim was between the ages of 12 and 17 at the time.

Patterson allegedly apologized to the victim on multiple occasions by email, expressing guilt for what he did, according to court documents. He said that he “wanted to seek professional counseling for his sins and to seek guidance from church officials and his parents.”

Patterson also indicated to the alleged victim that her concerns about his working with children were valid, police said.

In one of his emails, he said: “I have seen reports of teachers and youth pastors being arrested for having inappropriate and often sexual relationships with a student, and I have asked myself the question of if I am that teacher or youth pastor.”

In addition, according to police, Patterson said that he watchesd videos identifying sexual abuse of children and “is constantly asking himself ‘Is that me?’ ”

Patterson said he had set up “boundaries” with the students at the school and in his student ministry work.

Bail is set at $20,000 in Patterson’s case.

If convicted, Patterson faces a maximum range of punishment of 15 years in prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender.