OREGON
The Oregonian
By Rick Bella | The Oregonian/OregonLive
on April 23, 2015
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.
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