Pastor Steve Harmon/Maineville Baptist/Cincinnati,Ohio :-(
Kng4gvn
interested in the replies of any troublemakers. I googled for any posts on
Steve and it led me to here, I read where many of Steve's writings and such
were linked by someone in here.
Sadly and tradgically Pastor Harmon has been indicted for molesting young boys.
I know that many with relish in this news and that is pathetic IMO. I've known
Steve since I was a small child at Landmark Baptist Temple (Dr.John Rawlings
was the pastor then). Steve was my youth leader and my bus driver and when I
got saved at the age of eight my parents wanted to make sure I knew what I was
talking about and Brother Steve took me out to the park and read from the bible
and he later told my folks that indeed I knew what salvation was all about.
What is perplexing to me is that the hatred that is being spewed forth by
Maineville Baptist in the local news. I can understand the community or
non-believers being that way, but the hate (and that's what it was/is) from the
local church is unbelievable IMO. What happened about *Grace* and
*Forgiveness*??
There is no one that could have been more shocked than I was when it appeared
on my local news, after maybe a couple minutes of disbelief and reflection on
my part I forgave Steve. Isn't that what it's all about?? The pastor at the
Methodist Church directly across from Pastor Harmon's (former church) was the
ONLY one to say what should have been said, which was something to the effect
of "Lets remember to include Pastor Harmon and his family in our prayers".
How would you feel if someone you knew that is your friend for over 85% of your
adult life and a pastor at your church admitted to such charges? I pray for
Steve and his wife Landa Gale and their daughter that they can make it through
this together. If you have it in you, would you include them in your prayers?
Thanks :-)
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Pastor charged with molesting child
At least nine more charges expected to be leveled against former Maineville
pastor
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Police believe a 12-year-old boy allegedly sexually molested by a Maineville
pastor is not his first victim.
A Warren County Court judge set bond at $500,000 Tuesday during the arraignment
of former Maineville Baptist Church Pastor Stephen Harmon.
Harmon was arrested last week and charged with a third-degree felony count of
gross sexual imposition involving the 12-year-old boy.
Hamilton Twp. Det. Sgt. John Reynolds said investigators “most definitely
will have at least nine additional charges leveled against Harmon involving six
more boys” by the end of the week.
“We’re certain of the charges, and we will be presenting them to the grand
jury on Friday,” Reynolds said.
Hamilton Twp. Police Chief Eugene Duvelius said Harmon last week admitted to
sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy during a field trip and indicated other
young boys may also have been victims at various times during Harmon’s
15-year ministry at the Maineville church. Duvelius said Harmon indicated prior
molestation incidents in other cities in Ohio and other states.
Police were ordered to confiscate Harmon’s passport, which had recently been
updated, and an airline ticket Harmon recently purchased to a location outside
the United States.
“We are investigating a tip that he (Harmon) was somehow affiliated or
employed with schools in the area,” Duvelius said. “We also received a
phone call from someone that wants to offer information about a church in
Virginia that he (Harmon) organized. We are getting a lot of leads and a lot of
tips that we are now attempting to validate.”
Hamilton Twp. investigators are asking the public to come forward if they have
information about the pastor.
“We are also pretty certain not everyone has come forward yet, and we are
still requesting the community’s help in this matter,” Reynolds said.
Church members, residents and officials of this small southern Warren County
village are struggling to come to grips with the former pastor’s arrest.
Current and former members of the church and local government say they are
shocked and saddened by reports of Harmon’s alleged child molestation.
Her voice breaking, church secretary Myra Wiseman read a prepared statement.
“We are deeply saddened and greatly outraged at the events that have come to
light regarding the former pastor, C. Stephen Harmon,” she said. “It is
hard for anyone to understand how someone could do those things, especially
someone who is supposed to lead us in our faith. Our faith stands strong, and
we believe that God has a plan even in these terrible times. We fully support
and are cooperating with the legal system and expect that justice will be done.
Our prayers and support go out to the victims as they struggle to overcome.”
Harmon was relieved of his duties at the church when the allegations unfolded.
In addition to officiating at the church, the 47-year-old had been involved in
local politics. He was appointed to village council several years ago, holding
the position for about two years before resigning, said Maineville Mayor Dale
Marconet.
“I was shocked when I heard the allegations against Dr. Harmon. I never
dreamed anything like that would have been going on. I never dreamed anything
like this would happen here in the village,” the mayor said.
During the investigation, Hamilton Twp. police were permitted to remove at
least one computer and numerous floppy discs from the church.
“Dr. Harmon, by his admission to us in an interview, said he had child
pornography on the church’s computers,” Duvelius said. “As a result, we
removed the equipment from the church and had it sent to the Miami Valley Crime
Lab for analysis. Dr. Harmon stated to us that he deleted everything before he
left, but we are hoping the lab will be able to retrieve the information.”
If anyone has information involving Harmon or believes their children may have
been victims, contact the police at (513) 683-0538.
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Bond $500,000 for former pastor
Maineville minister charged with sexual imposition
By Lawrence Budd
Dayton Daily News
LEBANON | A Warren County judge set bail at $500,000 on Tuesday for a former
pastor charged with gross sexual imposition of a 12-year-old boy at a July 4
campout in Kentucky.
County Court Judge James Heath said the high bail is appropriate because of the
nature of the criminal charge against the Rev. Claude Stephen Harmon and
because Harmon would likely face other charges.
Harmon, 47, of Cincinnati was arrested Friday by Hamilton Twp. police and held
without bail until Tuesday's hearing. Heath also barred Harmon from any contact
with anyone under 18 and ordered police to hold his passport and a plane ticket
for an overseas mission trip.
Harmon has identified five other potential victims in incidents spanning 15
years as pastor of the 150-year-old Maineville Baptist Church, Hamilton Twp.
police Chief Gene Duvelius said. Harmon also could face charges involving
pornography he told police he stored on church computers seized by police.
On Tuesday, Harmon was arraigned using a video connection to the Warren County
Jail.
"I have no income," he said in response to questions about whether he would
hire a lawyer.
Harmon is alleged to have sexually abused a 12-year-old boy during a church
camp-out at Camp Victory in Kentucky during the July 4 weekend, Duvelius said.
Other allegations of sexual abuse involve "multiple victims, multiple
incidents" with boys 8 to 12 years old," some in the church residence where he
and his family lived until his arrest, Duvelius said.
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http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/10/02/loc_loc1amin.html