BishopAccountability.org

Church Leader Accused of Sexually Abusing Children

By Brandon Todd
The My Fox Dfw
November 19, 2013

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24004599/church-leader-accused-of-sexually-abusing-children


[with video]

ARLINGTON -

A spiritual leader at an Arlington church has been accused of sexually abusing three children.

Dale Edwin Orth, 56, remains in jail on a $450,000 bond since his arrest in September.

Orth was an elder at Grace Community Church in Arlington, and its pastor says its members are praying for healing.

Meanwhile, investigators are trying to find out how many children will be a part of their case against one of this church's former spiritual leaders.

"All the leadership of the church, we were shocked…we've been saddened, grieved by all this," said senior pastor Gary Hutchison.

When he and his church staff were told that Orth was accused of sexual abuse of a child, they went to Child Protective Services and police right away.

"We also began to let the church know if there was anyone else or any other person who knows of any child that could have possibly been impacted by this," said Hutchison.

On Sept. 10, Orth was arrested at his home by Arlington's Fugitive Unit and charged with three counts of continued sexual abuse of a child.

Two of the counts on were for children under 14, and one was for a child over 14.

Orth was immediately removed as a church elder, and Pastor Hutchison says to his knowledge, none of the alleged incidents of abuse happened at the church, and at least one happened several years ago.

Of the three known alleged victims, only one of them was affiliated with the church.

"He wasn't involved with children really much at all," said Hutchison. "He worked some with our missions department, but he didn't really [get] involved with children."

FOX 4 went to Orth's Arlington home Monday, where his wife answered the door. She had no comment on her husband's arrest.




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