Born Again molesters: COGIC church is home to 2nd serial child molestor
BREAKING NEWS – COGIC SEXUAL MOLESTORS STRIKE AGAIN; OFFICIALS REMAIN SILENT
In September 2009, the Winter Haven, FL News Chief broke news of the shocking crime in which a young girl was sexually assaulted multiple times by Minister Clevon Ghent, 35 and his nephew Genard Jones both members of Born Again Church of God in Christ in Auburndale, FL. The paper identified Ghent as a paid employee/supervisor of the church’s for profit janitorial service. Despite Ghent being convicted and sent to prison, the church’s pastor Theadore Hall, Jr. and the bishop of the jurisdiction Matthew Williams, made no public comments decrying sexual crimes by ministers of the church. This is typical behavior of COGIC officials since we began documenting child sex crimes in COGIC.
Now, two years later a second minister from the same church has been arrested on multiple child molestation charges. Police have identified at least three victims. Story via the Central Florida News 13:
A 25-year-old youth ministry leader at an Auburndale church is facing lewd molestation charges.
Lakeland Police arrested Darryl Leonard Taylor, Jr. Monday night.
According to the website for Born Again Church of God in Christ in Auburndale, Taylor is listed as the Ministry Leader of musicians as well as David’s Anointing Youth Worship Team Coordinator.
Taylor is charged with:
- 3 counts of lewd molestation of a child under 12
- 8 counts of lewd molestation of a child 12 to 16
- 2 counts of lewd battery of a child under 15
According to police, the investigation began on November 14, 2011, when a father contacted police to report his child had been sexually molested by Taylor. Police say the victim had revealed to an elder at the church that he had been molested by Taylor and the elder contacted the child’s father.
Police say an investigation revealed three other victims. Detectives say most of the assaults occurred at Taylor’s previous home and the last incident occurred at his current home.
Over and over, COGIC churches continue to make headlines –not because of good works– but because child molesters, in positions of influence and with access to children continue to work their wickedness. But after 3 years with over 15 cases of sexual abuse, Bishop Charles Blake has yet to enact any meaningful or significant policies to clamp down on offenders who are heaping shame and reproach upon the church’s name.
Taylor’s arrest brings known clergy child molestation/sexual abuse cases involving COGIC ministers to a total of five in 2011. It comes on the heels of the November 14th arrest and confession of Supt Thomas Wiggins who sexually abused a 14 year old boy.
This is yet another travesty…What is going on? Have the minds become that destitute? Why haven’t our “leaders” said a word condemning these atrocities? Because they love themselves MORE than they love God and his people…that HAS TO BE the reason, there is no other excuse for deafening silence and the restless inaction…As an Elder in this church for over 20 years, I am highly distraught!
I agree with you there. It’s simply because nobody wants to share the blame, if they tested the spirits…..well, you know. Quit going by who sounds and looks good behind a pulpit and start watching the lives of these demon possessed people. The devil can’t live right. Whatever happened to “you can’t preach in my pulpit unless you got the Holy Ghost?” Or for that matter the Holy Ghost? Get back to the basics tending sheep, not leading them slaughter. If you love God, feed his sheep. SMH.
Isnt it interesting that the elder at the church didnt contact the police first nor did he tell the pastor, he told the child’s father?
Strange.
That is funny, but you know what I feel? What would you do if you wanted to be in someone else’s spot badly? It’s sad even though wrong is wrong, why would a man of God not follow procedures properly? Is it because he wanted something to happen? Another murder case perhaps, it does make you wonder. A real father will do anything to protect his kids even retaliate when there’s wrong towards them, if the father would have lost his cool, he would’ve been on tv saying that he didn’t know what happened, now he has to explain himself. Great observation!
my brother can I ask you what spot was there to be gained by doing this. What are procedures or proper procedures for child abuse? What personal gain can a person gain from this? The hardest thing to do is have a child come to you and tell you that someone that you worked side by side with is molesting them. Just because that father didnt over react like you would have done doesnt make him not to be a real father, the bible tells us to be angry but sin not, how else could the father show the love of the Father? He did the right thing and thats why the police are here and thats to protect and serve. I suggest that you start growing in God and learn the word before you start posting your feelings and what you think on blogs!
Who is this addressed to?
That is funny, but you know what I feel? What would you do if you wanted to be in someone else’s spot badly? It’s sad even though wrong is wrong, why would a man of God not follow procedures properly? Is it because he wanted something to happen? Another murder case perhaps, it does make you wonder. A real father will do anything to protect his kids even retaliate when there’s wrong towards them, if the father would have lost his cool, he (Elder) would’ve been on tv saying that he didn’t know what happened, now he has to explain himself. Great observation!
I find it very interesting that everyone has a comment and dont know the whole story, I am the Elder that the boy came to and told that he was touched four years ago, and the first thing I did was go and get the boys father and told him what his son revealed to me and after that We went to the police. You dont keep the parents in darkness when something like this happens.
Are you saying that you were following the policy of the church when you contacted the father first and not the police even though you knew it was a crime?
I don’t think it was strange to contact the father first. I think that would be the responsible thing to do. The Elder did both, he contacted the father and took him to the police. I don’t see anything wrong with that. If he told only the father and no one else then I would agree that would be not just strange, but wrong. Also even though the article did not say he told the Pastor, that doesn’t mean he didn’t. He has already responded here, so I let him answer that part of the question.
Thanks!
Perhaps it wasnt strange, but I still want to know if he followed CHURCH POLICY if there was one. That would determine if he did what the church told him to do. Part of the problem with the whole COGIC sexual abuse issue is the nebulous atmosphere surrounding accountability. There’s mention of policies aka “zero tolerance” but where are they? Where are the official rules of conduct that ALL ministers should be following? The only way to hold someone accountable for their actions or inactions is to have a written policy by which to judge such actions. And if there is a policy, why is it not made public? Is there something in it that COGIC doesnt want questioned?