Sex Abuse Investigation of Ex-abilene Church Daycare Worker Expands to 21 Children

By Doug Myers & Maria Aguilera
KTAS
April 5, 2018

http://ktxs.com/news/abilene/press-update-set-for-3-pm-on-child-sex-abuse-probe-involving-abilene-man-churches

Police are now investigating 21 reported cases of sexual abuse of children involving a 24-year-old former Abilene church daycare worker.

That number includes eight “confirmed” cases of abuse tied to Benjamin Russell Roberts, an ex-childcare worker at Wylie Baptist Church’s Child Development Center and childcare programs at two other Abilene churches.

Victims have also been identified at Southern Hills Church of Christ, Police Chief Stan Standridge announced Friday during a news conference called to update the news media on an investigation that continues to escalate.

"The elders, ministry staff, and all members of Southern Hills Church of Christ are heartbroken to learn that the Abilene Police Department has received information of a potential victim or victims of abuse in the investigation of a former Southern Hills employee, Ben Roberts," Southern Hills Church of Christ elders said in a statement to KTXS.

"Southern Hills leadership urges all parents to speak with their children who may have had any contact with Ben Roberts in order to determine if any additional improper acts occurred."

Standridge said Roberts and the children were fully clothed at the times of the alleged indecency with a child offenses involving Roberts.

Also Friday, Standridge said investigators are moving slowly and that it will take a while for charges to be filed against the former director of Wylie Baptist Church’s Child Development Center for failing to report Roberts.

Failure to do so could result in her facing Class A misdemeanor charges, Standridge said.

Meanwhile, Standridge said police have seized video from Wylie Baptist Church's CDC – and that he said he expects more cases to be made as a result.

“They have weeks and months of video footage to go back and watch,” Standridge said.

The Child Advocacy Center has been doing forensic interviews. This week, the center has done 22 forensic interviews -- not all related to this case -- at a time when they typically do 30 in a month, Standridge said.

"A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event(s) that the child may have experienced or witnessed," the Child Advocacy Center's website says.

Standridge said police are conducting a “complex, long-range investigation” in which officers are “mindful that the child shall come first.”

Police Chief Stan Standridge is holding a "short press update" at 3 p.m. Friday on the investigation of a 24-year-old Abilene church worker who was arrested last week on child sex charges.

Earlier this week, Standridge said police had identified eight victims tied to Benjamin Russell Roberts and that there was an "extremely high likelihood" that Roberts sexually abused even more victims.

Seven of the eight victims were associated with Wylie Baptist Church's Child Development Center. That church's CDC director has been fired -- and Standridge has said he anticipates charges will be filed against her for not reporting alleged abuse involving Roberts.

Roberts was arrested March 28 and charged with indecency with a child and possession of child pornography. More charges are expected to be filed against him, according to Standridge.

KTXS will be carrying the news conference LIVE on Facebook.

Original story:

Police say they now have identified eight victims tied to a 24-year-old Abilene man who was arrested last week on child sex charges.

And Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge said there's an "extremely high likelihood" that Benjamin Russell Roberts sexually assaulted even more victims.

Police are continuing to conduct interviews with potential victims, and Standridge said he expects more victims to come forward.

Roberts was arrested March 28 and charged with indecency with a child and possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $150,000 on each charge.

Meanwhile, Standridge said the former director of the child development center at Wylie Baptist Church is expected to be charged in connection with the case.

Before being arrested last week, Roberts had previously worked at Wylie Baptist Church's Child Development Center and youth programs associated with at least two other Abilene churches.

Seven of the eight victims are from Wylie Baptist Church's CDC, according to the police chief. The eighth victim is from a north Abilene neighborhood center.

Standridge said the director hasn't been arrested, but that "we do anticipate filing charges at some point."

"We have reason to believe that she (the director) was aware of some of these criminal accusations (against Roberts)," Standridge said during a news conference.

Professionals are required by law to report child abuse, Standridge said.

“Failure to do so can be an offense in the state of Texas,” the police chief said.

Meanwhile, Wylie Baptist Church's Senior Pastor Mike Harkrider issued a statement Wednesday.

"As you all know Wylie Baptist Child Development Center has been working closely with the Abilene Police Department and the Department of Family and Protective Services in regards to the Benjamin Roberts investigation. At this point in the investigation, the acting director of the Wylie Baptist Child Development Center, has been released from her position as per the Department of Family and Protective Services. The investigation is still ongoing and this is all we know at this time. We are in heartfelt prayer for all of those involved in this difficult situation -- Wylie Baptist Church CDC Board of Directors"

When asked the name of Wylie Baptist CDC director, Harkrider said, "The information given on the previous email is all that we can give at this time."

According to police, Roberts worked at three places where he was in contact with children, including the Wylie Baptist Church's Child Development Center, Southern Hills Church of Christ daycare and Beltway Park Church's youth program.

Roberts had no criminal record, according to police, so he would have passed any background checks.

Police are encouraging parents of children who attend or have attended Wylie Baptist's CDC, Southern Hills or Beltway Park to talk to their kids. If they disclose abuse, you should call Abilene police immediately at (325) 673-8331.

Previous story:

The director of the child development center at Wylie Baptist Church has been fired.

The director's dismissal comes in the wake of the arrest of a 24-year-old Abilene man on child sex crime charges. Before being taken into custody last week, Benjamin Russell Roberts had previously worked at Wylie Baptist Church's Child Development Center and youth programs associated with at least two other Abilene churches.

Wylie Baptist Church's Senior Pastor Mike Harkrider issued a statement Wednesday.

"As you all know Wylie Baptist Child Development Center has been working closely with the Abilene Police Department and the Department of Family and Protective Services in regards to the Benjamin Roberts investigation. At this point in the investigation, the acting director of the Wylie Baptist Child Development Center, has been released from her position as per the Department of Family and Protective Services. The investigation is still ongoing and this is all we know at this time. We are in heartfelt prayer for all of those involved in this difficult situation -- Wylie Baptist Church CDC Board of Directors"

When asked the name of Wylie Baptist CDC director, Harkrider said, "The information given on the previous email is all that we can give at this time."

Abilene police have a news conference scheduled for 4 p.m. today to address questions.

Roberts was arrested March 28 and charged with indecency with a child and possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $150,000 on each charge.

Abilene police served a warrant in a north Abilene home. They arrested Roberts and he “admitted to and was found to be in possession of child pornography,” according to a report.

The department's Cyber Crimes Division was able to identify Roberts as the person who was downloading child porn at his residence. Police said he lived at a community outreach home.

Police seized several devices -- a Dell laptop, two iPhone 4s, a Samsung Galaxy, Sony USB -- which contained child pornography. They also found "one pair of children's underwear," Abilene Police Sgt. Lynn Beard said. No children lived at the home.

Beard said Roberts admitted "to inappropriately touching a child under 12 years old last year."

According to police, Roberts has worked at least three places where he was in contact with children, including the Wylie Baptist Church's Child Development Center, Southern Hills Church of Christ daycare and the Beltway Park Church Youth Program.

Roberts had no criminal record, according to police, so he would have passed any background checks.

Police are working to determine when he worked at each facility, whether there are other locations they don't know about and if there are other victims.

Police are encouraging parents of children who attend or have attended Wylie Baptist's CDC, Southern Hills or Beltway Park to talk to their kids. If they disclose abuse, Beard said you should call Abilene police immediately at (325) 673-8331.