NEWS

Indiana pastor pleads not guilty in abuse case

Matthew Glowicki
Louisville Courier Journal

A week after police and Child Protective Services pulled more than a dozen students from a Sellersburg, Ind., boarding school amid abuse allegations, two men accused of striking some of those youths entered not guilty pleas in court.

Little is still known about the boarding school, operated by Crossroads Baptist Church pastor Gerald Harris, though the school was billed "as a way to rebuild young men," Clarksville Chief of Police Mark Palmer said  in an interview.

"There's not a lot of documentation on it," he said. "They advertised a lot by word of mouth."

Harris, 47, and Christopher Williams, 21, were both arrested last week and now face charges of neglect of a dependent and battery of a child under 14, according to court records. Both pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Clark County Circuit Court in Jeffersonville, Ind.

Court records indicate both live at the church, 6109 Appleleaf Lane.

In operation since 2013, the year-round boarding school housed about 25 kids from mostly out of state at any given time, Palmer said. The facility was not properly zoned for 24/7 residency and has since been ordered by the Clarksville building commissioner to cease such operations.

Clarksville police and Child Protective Services did a welfare check at the church Sept. 1 and interviewed children ranging in age from 8 to 19. The youths told investigators of "various forms of punishment" for different infractions, Palmer said.

Multiple children said they had been whipped with a wooden paddle, according to a probable cause affidavit released last week. Some children had "severe" bruising, investigators said.

"We’re not just talking about disciple. I believe in discipline," Palmer said. Apparently the individual was not learning and the punishment continued. Where do you say enough is enough? Apparently they did not know where that line was.”

An 8-year-old boy said Williams tied a rope around his waist and jerked him around "for not behaving," according to the affidavit. An 11-year-old boy with "very serious bruising" on his buttocks and legs told investigators he was also hit with the paddle by both Williams and Harris when he wet his bed.

Students at the academy were also told they could not use the bathroom once the lights were turned off at night, according to the affidavit. All children have since been removed from the church and are being returned to their parents or Child Protective Custody, said Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Jeremy Mull.

Williams was a student coordinator at the school, which consisted of an add-on to the church building and included a classroom and dormitory area, Palmer said. Others were also employed at the facility, including a teacher, cook and custodian, he said. Some of the roles were filled by Harris' family members.

According to the school's Facebook page, the Well of Grace Boarding Academy "is a boys home under the authority of Crossroads Baptist Church."

Its stated goals include "reaching school age boys heading down the paths of destruction" and "watching the transformation of unwanted, and seemingly ruined lives into Godly young men."

Clarksville Police launched its investigation after state law enforcement told them children from the boarding academy were seen selling candy bars in Owensboro, Ky., Mull said.

It's not clear where the funds raised by selling candies were allocated, Palmer said.

"To be able to do that was kind of a reward," the chief said. "They were considered to be in good graces when they could go out on the field trip to sell items."

Williams is still looking for an attorney, he said in court Tuesday. Harris' attorney declined comment. A jury trial has been set for Jan. 26, 2016. Both are next due to appear in court Oct. 7.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at (502) 582-4989. Email him at mglowicki@courier-journal.com.