By Erin Hevern
Southeast Missourian
August 13 2010
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1656639.html
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| In this photo provided by the Union County State Attorney's Office via The Southern, the Rev. Bill Vandergraph, pastor of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church and president of the Friends of the Cross fundraising organization, is shown. The outspoken pastor who led fundraising efforts for the restoration of the towering southern Illinois cross landmark was jailed Friday July 16, 2010 on charges that he sexually assaulted a child. |
An Alto Pass, Ill., reverend, formerly the president of Friends of the Bald Knob Cross, had his preliminary hearing canceled Friday in Union County, after two more sexual abuse charges were filed against him.
The Rev. Bill Vandergraph, 72, charged with predatory sexual assault of a child under 13 in June, was charged Friday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He's accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl.
His attorney, Allen James, filed two motions with Union County Judge Mark Dovoie Friday, including a motion for a fitness evaluation, which upon completion would determine Vandergraph's ability to stand trial.
James also filed a motion to modify one of Vandergraph's conditions of bond, which didn't allow children under 14 to live at his residence near Alto Pass. The judge granted the motion, James said, on the condition that there is a third party in the home at all times.
James said despite the new charges, authorities haven't identified more victims in the case other than the 4-year-old girl.
Vandergraph, pastor of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Alto Pass, according to an Associated Press article, has been a foster parent over the years to dozens of children. James said currently, his client has two adopted children under 14 living at his residence.
For the last two years, Vandergraph has led fundraising efforts to make over an 111-foot tall cross in Southern Illinois. The Bald Knob Cross has been a Christian symbol and tourist attraction there since 1963. Vandergraph was also named in a lawsuit filed Thursday by atheist Rob Sherman, over whether state money should be used to restore the cross.
Vandergraph has a status hearing scheduled for Aug. 31, when James said he, the state's attorney and the judge will most likely discuss the results of Vandergraph's evaluation.
Contact: ehevern@semissourian.com
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