Rephidim deacon: Nothing can persuade him Wichita Falls pastor sexually abused children

Report: Wichita Falls Pastor on Trial for Child Sexual Abuse

In a trial against Ronnie Allen Killingsworth, a Wichita Falls pastor accused of sexually abusing three young girls, church members testified for the defense on Friday. Killingsworth, 78, was indicted on six counts of indecency with a child in connection with incidents that occurred between 2000 and 2011. He is currently free on $150,000 bond.

Background

1. The victims testified that the sexual abuse took place in Killingsworth’s office at Rephidim Church in Wichita Falls.
2. Texas Ranger Matt Kelly provided testimony about his investigation into the case. He mentioned that Allen Killingsworth, the suspect’s son and a detective with the Wichita Falls Police Department, questioned the validity of the victims’ accusations but refused to testify. Other members of the church also declined to be interviewed.
3. Sgt. Michael Jones of the Wichita Falls Police Department testified about his investigation of a rape allegation made by one of the pastor’s alleged victims in an unrelated case. However, the district attorney’s office claimed to have never received his report.
4. Jennyfer Rosado, a trauma counselor, testified that she counseled one of Killingsworth’s victims in 2020 regarding an unrelated sexual assault. She reported the incident to Child Protective Services as required by law and stated that the woman suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
5. Samantha Torrance, a forensic interview supervisor, testified about recorded interviews with the alleged victims and law enforcement reports. She explained that child victims of abuse often delay reporting due to shame or guilt, and that abusers often groom their victims with special attention or gifts.

Defense Witnesses

• Steven Bucci, a retired Army colonel and security consultant, testified that he inspected the church and found it to have “very good security.” He praised the measures taken, such as locked doors and the presence of guns.
• Douglas Slaybaugh, a longtime church member and deacon, testified that he never saw children go alone into Killingsworth’s office. He expressed disbelief in the allegations against Killingsworth.
• Lanita Hardin, the church’s longtime secretary, stated that she only saw Killingsworth’s granddaughter alone with him in his office.
• Tracy Shawn, a congregation member, testified that Killingsworth always considered one-on-one sessions with children to be inappropriate.
• Samantha Blair, another member of the church, expressed confidence in the safety of her children at the church.

The trial will resume on Monday morning. If convicted, Killingsworth could face up to 20 years in prison for each count. It is important to note that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned in the article. However, indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets may include:

• Number of reported cases of sexual abuse or violence against children and women.
• Number of convictions and sentences for perpetrators of sexual abuse or violence against children and women.
• Access to support services for victims of sexual abuse or violence.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: timesrecordnews.com

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