BishopAccountability.org

Reverend Roy Harriger Found Guilty on Two Counts of Sex Abuse

By Rose Eiklor
TWC News
January 26, 2015

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2015/01/26/niagara-county-pastor-sex-abuse-trial.html

[with video]

ALBION, N.Y. -- The trial for a former Niagara County pastor charged with sexual abuse ended Monday with a pair of guilty verdicts.

"For him to do this to my kids killed me, because I couldn't believe that was supposed to be a man of God. How could he do this to anybody?" asked one of the victim's mothers.

After a week-long trial, jury members found Roy Harriger guilty of two counts of course sexual conduct against a child. Harriger was a pastor at Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville and at Community Fellowship Church in the Town of Hartland in Niagara County.

It’s a case described by Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone as a multi-generational wave of destruction.

"It's a very difficult situation that they had to endure for years," said Cardone.

"I will not listen to what happened to my children, because I don’t know what I would do. My children told their story," said a victim’s father

With dozens of family members in the courtroom, three of the victims testified of the sexual abuse they faced at five years old. The charges are from 2000 and 2001, but some say the abuse really started decades ago.

Nona Blackchief, Harriger’s sister, told Time Warner Cable News that "It all started with me. I should have done something back then."

Although pleased with the verdict, some family members are upset that Harriger remains free on $250,000 bail.

"He's a flight risk. He could hurt my mom. He could hurt other people. He should not be on the streets," said another Harriger family member.

Despite the heartache they said they have faced, there is one plus to this truly difficult trial.

"My son that is in the army can enjoy his life now,” said one victim’s mother. “His sister just called him on base and said grandpa is guilty and (he) said thank God."

"Through all this, it has made us stronger. My cousins, all of us, we are a lot stronger then we were," said a cousin to the victims.

Harriger is due back in court on April 6 for sentencing. He could face a minimum of 25 years in jail.

 




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