WJZ
May 22, 2009
http://wjz.com/local/sex.pastor.church.2.1016431.html
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| Curtis Allen is an esteemed former church elder who police accuse of having sex with a 13-year-old boy. |
City police arrest a respected former deacon after a teenager accused him of rape.
Mike Hellgren reports the abuse happened between morning and evening church services according to police.
Curtis Allen is an esteemed former church elder who police accuse of having sex with a 13-year-old boy who was a parishioner at Bethel Temple Church of Christ on West Rogers Ave.
Allen faces more than a dozen charges including sodomy, rape, assault, and child abuse.
Baltimore City Police say it all happened inside the former deacon's home in the city's Park Heights neighborhood.
A man inside the home refused to comment.
At the time of the alleged crimes, Allen was a deacon at Bethel. The church is just a two minute drive from his home.
The charges stem from a lengthy police investigation that began late last year with a phone call from the victim.
Investigators say Allen had three encounters with him starting in September 2004 and ending in December 2005.
"We're looking at a three, four year time difference between when it occurred and when it was reported to us," said Officer Troy Harris, Baltimore City Police.
Police say the church suspended the deacon before his arrest this week. The church did not give answers as to why.
"The investigation is not over. At this time, we don't have any other victims, but our detectives are still looking into this," said Harris.
Police say church leaders have cooperated with them, and authorities have a message for parents of young people who had contact with former deacon Allen.
"No matter if it's someone in the church who's respected or not, if they feel something wrong occurred between them and that person, they can come to you and talk to you about it," said Harris.
The former deacon's next court date is June 17.
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