3 Church Leaders Charged with Sexual Abuse of Teens in Program

By Cameron Luttrell
Patch
May 25, 2018

https://patch.com/maryland/bowie/3-church-leaders-charged-sexual-abuse-teens-program

A Fort Washington pastor, minister and church member were charged for the sexual abuse of members of a church program for at-risk youth.


Police have charged three Prince George's County church leaders for the alleged sexual abuse of four girls who were members of a church program for at-risk youth.

The suspects are a church pastor, his son and his son-in-law. Joshua William Wright, 67, of Brandywine is the Head Pastor of the Oxon Hill Assembly of Jesus Christ. Wright's son is a minister at the church, identified as William Joshua Wright, 46, of White Plains. Wright's son-in-law is a leading member at the church named Donald Jackson, 40, of White Plains.

Court records state William Wright is a U.S. Capitol Police officer.

Police said the suspects allegedly sexually assaulted the girls between 2001-2008, when the girls were between the ages of 15 and 18.

The victims were enrolled in a program run by the Oxon Hill Assembly of Jesus Christ in Fort Washington called CHOP – Children Having Overcoming Power. The program was designed to provide living accommodations in the homes of church members and education classes at the church for at-risk youth, police said.

"The sexual acts in this case involved individual interactions and occurred at various locations including the suspects' homes, various parks, and the church," Prince George's County Police said in a statement.

The victims in this case came forward as adults to report the abuse they suffered when they were teenagers.

Detectives are encouraging any others who encountered any type of abuse in the CHOP program to come forward. The CHOP program ended in 2011.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Child and Vulnerable Adult Unit at (301) 772-4930. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the "P3 Tips" mobile app (search "P3 Tips" in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)