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	Ex-Springfield Minister Facing Rape Charge By Cindy Scharr Delco Times [Pennsylvania] April 15, 2007 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18212211&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6 More than 23 years after leaving his post at the Springfield Presbyterian Church, a former associate pastor was brought back to town to face charges he raped several members of the church's youth group in the 1970s and 80s. Trembling and complaining about the cold, Gerald Leroy Klever, 75, stood before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Scanlon Saturday as the charges against him were read: Three counts each of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, both charges felonies; corruption of minors; indecent assault and indecent exposure. Klever, wearing jeans, Nike sneakers and a natty navy blue shirt, told the judge the charges against him "were perfectly clear." Scanlon set bail at $250,000 cash. Extradited from Tuscon, Ariz., and flown back to Pennsylvania Friday night, Klever was housed at the Springfield Police Department's lockup overnight. Klever expressed concern about being returned to the Springfield Police Station's holding cell. "It was really cold in there (Friday) night," he told Scanlon. The judge assured him that unless he posted bail, he wouldn't be going back to the holding cell, but would be taken to Delaware County prison instead. Klever told Scanlon preparations were under way for his bail to be posted. Scanlon reminded him that one of the conditions of his bail was that he not have any contact with the alleged victims. Allegations against Klever came to light last year when as many as 12 women came forward and accused him of sexual misconduct while he was affiliated with the Springfield church, according to the affidavit of probable cause written by Springfield Detective Daniel J. McNeely. At least two of the victims, who ranged in age from 11 to 15, were repeatedly raped by Klever during his tenure as associate pastor from June 1977 until February 1983, the affidavit states. Klever allegedly forced one girl to perform oral sex on him "at least 150 times," most of the time in his third-floor office at the church. He sexually abused the girl for several years, beginning when she was 15 years old, the affidavit states. In March 1978, when Klever told the girl's mother he wanted to take her to a seminar on assertiveness training in the Poconos, according to the affidavit, and the mother agreed, believing other children from the youth group would also be attending. Instead, Klever took the girl, who was a virgin, to a Holiday Inn in the Poconos and raped her repeatedly, the affidavit states. The clergyman allegedly threatened to "tell her friends about her family problems" if she told anyone. Another of Klever's alleged victims was 14 when he began sexually assaulting her. He continued his assaults for three years, the affidavit states. During the summer of 1981, Klever raped the girl in a cabin while she was with the youth group at a Monroe County camp operated by the Presbyterian Church. Klever's association with the church also ended in February 1983, when he moved to Maryland. He relocated to Tucson, Ariz., where he and his wife Anita became prominent members of the Tucson community, according to several sources. If Klever posts bail, he is permitted to return to his Arizona home. He is not permitted to leave the country. Church officials have, in the meantime, expressed their intent to do everything possible to help the victims find healing and justice. Several steps have also been taken to prevent such abuse from happening in the future, according to church leaders. They include: - Approving a sexual misconduct policy, which requires criminal and child-abuse background checks on all employees of the church and volunteers who work with children and youth. -Two adults are now required to be present with children and youth at all events, including classes, meetings, trips and other gatherings. -All church offices have been consolidated into one suite, so no office is isolated from the general activity around the building. All office doors are glass. -Training is planned for all teachers and volunteers about the awareness and prevention of child abuse and sexual misconduct and the appropriate responses to the same. Klever is scheduled to be back in district court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing. Contact: cscharr@delcotimes.com
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