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	Child Molesting Case Resurfaces, Could Cost Church Millions By Ryan Orr Victorville Daily Press April 3, 2008 http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/child_5703___article.html/resurfaces_church.html HESPERIA — A lawsuit filed this week alleges that the head pastor at a local church knew about child molestation taking place and did nothing, a mistake that could end up costing millions. Roy Long was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Hesperia when he first began to molest two six-year-old sisters in 1996. The girls, scared and embarrassed, did not tell their mother about the abuse until they were 17 and living in New Mexico. Now 88, the former deacon pleaded guilty in January to sexual intercourse with a minor and molesting children under 18. The charges are in connection with molesting the two sisters over a four-year period from 1996 to 2000. Long was arrested in November and sentenced to time served and four years probation, in part due to his age. Now, a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles based law firm, Taylor and Ring, is not only suing Long for damages, but the church itself, alleging that head pastor Wayne Stockstill knew about the abuse and did nothing. According to the complaint, a female adult member of the church witnessed Long fondling one of the plaintiffs while riding on a wagon hay-ride on church grounds at its "Fall Festival." "The witness observed Long holding the girl on his lap and rubbing her chest and her groin area," according to the complaint. "The plaintiff squirmed to be free from Long, but Long continued to keep her on his lap and fondle her." The witness went directly to Wayne Stockstill and informed him of what she had seen to which he replied, "Don't worry. I will handle this," states the complaint. When Long was arrested in 2007, the witness — shocked that the situation had not been taken care of — communicated in writing with Stockstill and confronted him about his failing to do anything when she first reported the abuse she had seen. "Pastor Stockstill responded to the witness in writing and admitted that he 'made an egregious mistake' back in 1996 with his handling of the situation," states the complaint. He went on to write that he "erred on the side of grace," choosing not to believe the witness, the complaint alleges. "I think that for legal reasons, I best just not make a statement at all" Stockstill said when informed of the lawsuit. The victims' attorney, David Ring, said that the girls have had a rough go of it since they were abused and one sister has even attempted suicide. Both asked not to be named and are now 18 and living out of state. "They have both had real problems in their teenage years struggling with the abuse," said Ring. "These cases routinely get resolved for millions of dollars because these girls' lives are basically ruined," Ring said. He did not specify an amount that he is seeking, but emphasized the emotional distress that the girls have gone through. Long is now a registered sex offender and according to the Megan's Law Web site is still living in Victorville. Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com.
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