Five additional men associated with the Jehovah's Witnesses in Pennsylvania are facing charges related to the sexual abuse of children, as part of a larger investigation into the organization. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry revealed the charges, which include rape and molestation, during a recent press conference. The accused are Shaun Sheffer (45), David Balosa (62), Errol William Hall (50), Terry Booth (57), and Luis Ayala-Velasquez (55). Four of the men are in custody, while Balosa remains at large. All five had contact with children through their church affiliation, according to the Attorney General.
One victim testified to being raped over 50 times between the ages of 7 and 12 by a church member aged 18 to 23 at the time. Other accusations involve inappropriate touching and grooming behaviors. Some of these assaults allegedly occurred after families within the church welcomed the perpetrators into their homes.
This development follows the February indictment of five other individuals connected to the Jehovah's Witnesses on similar charges, bringing the total number of suspects identified in this ongoing investigation to 14. Church spokesperson Jarrod Lopes expressed the organization's distress over the allegations but refrained from commenting directly on the new charges. Lopes emphasized the church's efforts to educate parents about child protection through various resources and to offer support to victims. He also stated that individuals found guilty of such offenses are removed from the congregation and encouraged anyone who has experienced abuse to report it to law enforcement.
