Chesco Pastor Accused of Rape Will Return to U.S. from Ecuador
By Michael Tanenbaum
A Chester County pastor accused of raping and impregnating a teenage girl will return to the United States from Ecuador to face pending charges, according to a Pennsylvania detective who confirmed contact with the suspect's lawyer. West Whiteland, Pa. Detective Scott Pezick told People Thursday afternoon that 33-year-old Jacob Malone, of Exton, has been in Ecuador for approximately two weeks and will be brought into custody upon his entry into the United States. He is expected to face charges of rape, institutional sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minor, and furnishing liquor to a child, according to the detective. The allegations against Malone evolved over a period of several years. He reportedly met the victim when she was 12 years old while pastoring at a church she attended in Mesa, Arizona. In 2014, he reached out to the then-17-year-old girl and invited her to stay with him and his family at his new home in Minnesota, where he allegedly attempted to have inappropriate contact with her. When Malone moved to Chester County in July 2014, police say he again extended an invitation to the victim to stay with him, registering her at a local high school. That fall, according to police, the victim said Malone began sexually assaulting her at his home on the unit block of Atherton Drive in Exton. When she turned 18, the victim told police Malone allegedly served her alcohol on several occasions, molesting her on one occasion when she became "highly intoxicated." Throughout the abuse, the victim said she attended the Calvary Fellowship church in Downingtown, where Malone became employed in August 2014. A church official told PhillyVoice the community was "devastated" by the accusations, explaining that Malone tendered his resignation in November 2015 after church elders confronted him about the allegations. Calvary Fellowship staff say they immediately began to cooperate with authorities at that point. Malone initially denied his guilt, revealing that a young woman expecting a child was living with him but that he was not the father. Church officials say the victim then told them Malone had impregnated her shortly after she turned 18 years old. She has since returned to her home state of Arizona. Malone, who was a pastor of leadership development and volunteerism, reportedly flew to Ecuador to meet with acquaintances and reflect on the situation while his wife, Libby, remained at home. He recently hinted at "major personal issues" in a video posted to Youtube explaining his decision to resign from Calvary Fellowship Church. Charles Proctor, Malone's attorney, said his client "is being fully cooperative" with authorities and that his Ecuador trip was not an attempt to flee from justice. Bill Bateman, a pastor at Calvary Fellowship Church, said the community is heartbroken by the harm caused to innocent people. "We are all sinners. We hurt for the young lady, we hurt for Jake and his family, we hurt for the church body that placed trust in the church leadership."
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