By John Ford
Neosho Daily News
May 5, 2008
http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/x1478012051/Deputies-stake-out-church
Neosho, Mo. - Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland and deputies with the sheriff's department were standing guard Sunday in front of Acts II church in an effort to warn parents and church members about allegations against Randall "Danny" Russell, the church pastor.
The sheriff and deputies Andy Pike and Steve Bock, were standing on Mulberry Road about 100 yards from Acts II.
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| Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland, foreground, talks with deputies Steve Bock and Andy Pike Sunday morning on Mulberry Road near Acts II. Copeland said the department wanted to warn parents about sex abuse allegations against self-proclaimed pastor Randall Danny Russell. Photo by John Ford |
On Wednesday, Russell, 49, was charged with second-degree statutory rape, second-degree statutory sodomy, and child abuse. The charges stem from allegations made by a woman now in her early 20s who said Russell had sexual contact with her when she was 16 years old.
"Our main objective is to make sure that everyone knows what the allegations are on him," said Copeland. "We want the parents to know what's going on out here, as well as 16-year-olds who can drive themselves out here. We'll be confronting them and telling them we're going to be calling their parents."
However, no one showed up for services Sunday morning, and Copeland said at that time deputies would return at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday to tell youths attending night services about the allegations.
However, no one showed up for services then, either.
"My guess is that he called it off for a while," Copeland said.
However, the department did receive three telephone calls about allegations concerning Russell, including one from a young woman now living on the West Coast.
She also talked to the Neosho Daily News, and her story is in today's edition.
Mike Barnett, an investigator with the Newton County Sheriff's Department, would be calling those callers back today and interviewing them further, Copeland said.
The sheriff said Barnett has interviewed about 10 juveniles who went to the church, learning that a member of his family picks up youths in a van on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. The sheriff said Monday morning the department would again do a stakeout near the property Tuesday.
Copeland said his goal was not to prevent Russell from having church services or to keep people from attending, but to alert people to the allegations.
"He can hold all of the services he wants," Copeland said. "But this deal is like having a poisoned pond: We wouldn't let kids swim in it."
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