HAMMOND (IL)
Post-Tribune
By Teresa Auch Schultz tauch@post-trib.com October 4, 2012
Updated: October 4, 2012
A federal judge has sealed communication between Jack Schaap, the former pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, and his 17-year-old victim, according to an order filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.
U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano granted a motion by Schaap’s attorneys to keep the documents, which include emails and letters, private because they include information that identifies the victim.
Schaap pleaded guilty last month to taking the girl, who was receiving counseling from him and was one of his congregants at First Baptist, across state lines into Illinois and Wisconsin for sexual activity.
Schaap said during his hearing he didn’t realize what he was doing was criminal, although he did know it was a sin.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.