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	Church Leader Accused of Sexual Abuse By John Garcia ABC 7 November 16, 2007 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5766429 The minister of a storefront church on Chicago's Northwest Side is charged with sexually abusing a young boy. Jose Morales is the pastor. Authorities say the abuse went on for years Jose Morales is 49 years old. He founded this nondenominational church about a decade ago and authorities say that's also about the time he started abusing the young boy, whose family had just moved here from Venezuela. No one was at the church Friday night on Montrose, but authorities say it's a closely knit congregation and their pastor is a spiritual leader they look to for guidance. Authorities say that made it all the more difficult for the young boy to come forward. "One of those classic cases where you abuse a position of trust. It was clear that this young man was not going to be able to talk to anybody," said Tom Dart, Cook County sheriff. Police say the abuse began when the victim was 11 years old and continued for 10 years, ending after the victim turned 21. Authorities say the suspect, Morales, has made statements implicating himself. Authorities say the case came together quickly "Concerned citizens observed some behaviors both with the victim and the pastor that were odd that led us then to go and talk to the victim," said Dart. Morales is charged with one count of predatory criminal assault of a child and one count of criminal sexual assault. A judge has set bond at $400,000. Authorities say Morales would threaten to call immigration authorities if his victim ever came forward and told authorities about what was going on. In the meantime, the sheriff's department says this investigation is still open and they are looking to see if there could be any other victims out there.
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