OHIO
Newark Advocate
Written by
Jessie Balmert
Advocate Reporter
NEWARK — Their associate pastor sexually abused them. Friends ridiculed them. Churchgoers held a candlelight vigil for the man who assaulted them.
But after nearly a decade, a group of jurors believed them — to the tune of $4.35 million.
Two young women were vindicated after a jury found that former Licking Baptist Church associate pastor Lonny “Joe” Aleshire, 41, of Hebron, sexually assaulted them when they were 13 and 16 years old, said their attorney, Beverly Farlow.
The abuse, which occurred between 2003 and 2004, was reported in early 2005. Later that year, Aleshire pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, three counts of sexual imposition and one count of rape.
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