ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
By Jeremy Gorner
Tribune reporter
9:18 p.m. CDT, June 26, 2014
A pastor of a suburban church is accused of molesting a boy for years while he attended the congregation – starting when the child was about 8 years old, authorities allege.
The Rev. John Hays, the director of congregation life for the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, was arrested today by Chicago police and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Hays is alleged to have fondled the victim from February 2003 through February 2009, according to Chicago police Officer Ana Pacheco, a police spokeswoman.
Investigators began looking into Hays, 57, in late May after the victim, now 19, reported the abuse to authorities, authorities said.
Authorities said the victim and his parents attended the church, but the victim was also a good friend of Hays’ family and spent time with them outside of church. All of the abuse took place in Hays’ home in Chicago’s Austin community, down the block from where the victim lived, authorities said.
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