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	Many Abuse Charges against Pastors Dropped Columbia Daily Tribune October 2, 2006 http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Oct/20061002News026.asp Pineville (AP) - Most of the child-sex charges filed against two southwest Missouri church leaders have been dropped because of the statute of limitations. And a Missouri Supreme Court decision will determine whether the remaining charges will be dropped as well. Paul S. Epling, 53, and his brother, Tom Epling, 51, were among five church leaders from two affiliated churches accused of abusing young girls from their congregations, sometimes as part of a ritual or ceremony. The charges initially filed against the Eplings, both deacons of Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church in McDonald County, stemmed from the alleged sexual abuse of two girls from 1976 to 1983. Assistant Prosecutor Dan Bagley filed amended charges against the brothers Friday after their lawyer argued in a court filing that the brothers faced improper charges. Bagley said the amended charges reflect state law at the time of the alleged crimes.
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