Several Jehovah's Witnesses charged in child sex abuse cases across Pa.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Five more people have been charged in a growing investigation into child sexual abuse in the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization in Pennsylvania, officials announced Friday.
The people - all men - are charged in cases that happened all across Pennsylvania, Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a news conference. One of the men charged is an elder in the congregation.
"The five defendants that we have charged today were all adults in positions of trust with these victims. And they violated that trust and they abused these children," Henry said. "Children are some of our most vulnerable members of society, and they should be nurtured and protected. But instead of protecting these children, the defendants violated and abused them."
A total of 14 people involved in the organization have been charged, Henry said.
Those charged are:
- David Balosa, 62, of Philadelphia
- Errol William Hall, 50, of Delaware County, an elder in the organization
- Shaun Sheffer, 45, of Butler County
- Terry Booth, 57, of Panama City, Florida
- Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, 55, of Reading, Pennsylvania
Henry said the five cases involve different victims and happened in different parts of the state - but all of them were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation.
"And many of them gained access to their victims through this organization," Henry said.
A grand jury indicted the five defendants, Henry said.
"I am thankful to the courageous survivors in these cases who are willing to share the horrific abuse that they went through, I'm inspired by their strength," Henry said.
