ILLINOIS
WLS
By Tanja Babich and Diane Pathieu
Friday, June 27, 2014
RIVER FOREST, Ill. (WLS) — A minister on staff at a River Forest church accused of molesting a boy over several years appeared in court Friday.
Chicago police arrested Reverend John Hays, 57, on Thursday. He has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The alleged abuse took place in his home in the Austin neighborhood from 2003 to 2009. Police said it began when the boy was 8 years old. The victim, who is now 19, reported the alleged abuse to police last month.
Church board member Kevin Murphy says Hays notified the River Forest church that he was being investigated for the crime last month and was promptly terminated from his role as director of congregational life. He was not involved with either the children’s or youth ministries, still members of the congregation were notified about the investigation within days of Hays’ departure from the church, Murphy said.
“Any allegation or incident of child abuse is very upsetting to all concerned. And this is a very serious situation that’s very upsetting to me personally. It’s very upsetting to our entire congregation,” said Murphy.
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