Police Capture Ex-Pastor Who Fled After Alleged Sexual Assault
Police apprehended a former pastor who fled the country after allegedly sexually assaulting and impregnating a teenager.
Jake Malone, who was on staff at Calvary Fellowship Downington in Pennsylvania, fled to Ecuador for two weeks, according to reports.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Jacob Malone when he arrived back in the United States at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, January 18, 2016,” according to the West Whiteland Township Police Department. “Malone is currently being held in Essex County, New Jersey and is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania to answer to the charges related to the allegations in West Whiteland Township. The West Whiteland Township Police Department would like to thank the public for their help with locating Malone.”
People reports police will charge Malone with rape, institutional sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors and furnishing liquor to minors.
The girl met Malone at a church in Arizona first when she was 12. Later, when she was 17, Malone reportedly contacted the victim and invited her to live with his family in Minnesota, according to a police report.
The victim then moved with Malone and his family to Pennsylvania. Police say the victim says this is when the molestation began.
NBC Philadelphia reports police say the victim says she is now pregnant with Malone’s child.
Church leaders confirmed the pregnancy to the Philadelphia Post-Gazette.
Bateman told the Post-Gazette church leaders informed the congregation of the situation on Sunday.
“Our church’s goal in difficult moments like this is to protect the innocents, first of all,” Bateman said. “And, number two, we strive to bring about repentance and restoration of the offender.”
