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Churchhid abuse,womansays Youth pastor’s actions in ’80s ‘swept under the rug,’ shesays

BY GARTH STAPLEY [email protected]

The 27-year-old married youth pastor in Modesto con- soled the troubled girl, whose father had just died. Eventually, he kissed her. Then he fondled her. She was 14. 1 Over the next 2 ⁄2 years, Brad Tebbutt sexually abused Jennifer Graves in his office at First Baptist Church, a prominent Mo- desto congrega- tion, and in his Brad car. After school, Tebbutt before his wife returned from work, he would have sex with her in his home, she said. At the end of her junior year at Beyer High School, in 1988, Tebbutt and his wife moved away. Arecent publication boasts of his 30-year career as a youth pastor, and he now works in aseniors ministry for the International House of Prayer of Kansas City. PETER HALEY [email protected] How Tebbutt kept his jobs at Jennifer Roach, nowordained in the Anglican Church and acounselor forsexual abuse victims in Washington state, speaks of being sexually churches and religious schools, abused by Brad Tebbutt,then ayouth pastor at First Baptist Church in Modesto, in the1980s. She says she was14yearsold when it began. in Oregon and Missouri, is un- known. Interview requests sub- mitted to several known em- VIDEO Roach has been ordained in the ployers and former employers Anglican Church, she’s earned mostly have gone unanswered. Watchvideo reports to find out more. college degrees and she now It’s clear that soon after the modbee.com counsels sexual abuse victims, abuse ended, First Baptist lead- among other clients, in areli- ers knew. bo would respond only in writ- gious therapy group outside Afew months after Tebbutt ing, sidestepping some ques- Seattle. left town, the girl confided in tions. And she’s become asilence another youth pastor, who told The current lead pastor at breaker. then-high school pastor Marvin First Baptist –which changed to The #MeToo movement has Jacobo, who has led along and CrossPoint Community Church revealed heartbreaking stories distinguished in 2010 –arrived long after of people in positions of power ministry both at church leaders were rocked in abusing others, and now has the church and at private by this sex scandal, as offshoots such as #ChurchToo arespected reli- well as two others where adult and #MosqueMeToo. gious nonprofit volunteers molested several MARTY BICEK [email protected] Abusers and enabling church group in Modes- boys, in the 1980s. First Baptist became CrossPointCommunityChurch in 2010;itnow leaders, Roach said, “don’t get to. Enough boys shared their requires staff members to go through abuse prevention training. to be the only voice in what it Jacobo recently stories with authorities to con- means to have faith. They don’t Marvin confirmed that he vict the two men, although a get to steer this ship entirely on Jacobo had called Teb- delay in reporting allowed one went to police. They termed it who also attended First Baptist, their own. The people they’re butt after the girl to prey on more boys at another an affair, she said. Deborah Jules Vilmur and Jen- harming, they deserve better.” came forward all those years church down the road, court “They gave me specific direc- nifer Vanderpol Tracz, recently ago, and said Tebbutt confessed documents say. tions to never speak of the confirmed that she had confid- LIGHT ON AHILL to him. Jacobo then contacted But Tebbutt’s victim –still a events to anyone, because it ed in them about the abuse not First Baptist, now CrossPoint, Tebbutt’s wife and his boss at teenager, when she finally came would damage the reputation of long after it happened. has served many years as Mo- the time, he said. forward –was told to forgive the church, and of Jesus him- Today is Jennifer Graves desto’s go-to for prominent Tebbutt refused multiple and forget. self,” she said. “The abuse was Roach’s 47th birthday. She’s funerals, including a2003me- interview requests made via Church leaders never in- swept under the rug.” married and has ateenage son. telephone and email, and Jaco- formed her mother. They never Two friends from those days Since those days in Modesto, SEE ABUSE, 6A

tion Conference, where speak- ers like WayneLaPierre, the Demmemo backs surveillance head of the National Rifle Asso- ciation, attacked what they calledits “rogue leadership.” by FBI of Trump’s former aide At the conference Saturday, Rep. Devin Nunes,R-Tulare, MORE INSIDE an attack on the Americandem- the committee’s chairman, said ON NBC TV BY KAROUN DEMIRJIAN ocratic system,the committee the newly released memo AND DAVID WEIGEL Howworried should Trump be about has been pulled into afurious showed that Democratswere Washington Post TODAY the Russia inquiry? 2A effort by Trump and his allies to engaged in acover-up and were Women’s 30km cross WASHINGTON sow doubts about the integrity “colluding with parts of the country; ice hockey; The House Intelligence Com- to undermine the congressional of the special counselinquiry government” to carry it out. closing ceremony mitteereleasedaredacted and special counsel investiga- and the agencies conducting it. The Democratic memo under- Democratic memorandumSat- tionsinto Russia’s meddling in The Democratic memo went daysofreviewbytop law MEDAL COUNT urday counteringRepublican the 2016 presidentialelection amounted to aforceful rebuttal enforcement officials after the claimstop FBI and Justice De- and possiblecoordination with to the president’s portrayal of president had blocked its outright CountryGSBTot partment officials had abused the Trumpcampaign. the Russia inquiry as a“witch release two weeks ago, withthe Norway 13 14 11 38 their powers in spying on a But the dueling accounts hunt” beingperpetrated by WhiteHouse counsel warning Canada 11 81029 formerTrump campaign aide. reflected an extraordinary politically biasedleaders of the that the document “contains Germany138728 The document was intended struggle on the committee to try FBI and the Justice Department. numerous properly classified and United States 98623 by Democrats to offer apoint- to shape public perceptions of The newfound animosity especially sensitive passages.” On Netherlands 86620 by-point refutation of what it the credibilityofthe nation’s toward the FBI among osten- Saturdayafternoon,after weeks As of 7p.m. ESTSaturday called the “transparent” at- top law enforcement agencies. sibly law-and-order Republicans of haggling over redactions, the tempt by President Donald For weeks, insteadoffocusing was reflected this past week at MORE WINTER OLYMPICS Trump’s allies on the committee its full energy on investigating the Conservative Political Ac- SEEMEMO, 2A COVERAGE INSIDE,3C

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“I woke up in the mid- dle of the night with him (Chapman) touching me,” Spencer said. “I freaked out. Ididn’t know if I should tell anybody, so of course Ididn’t. Ireally can’t tell you why, if it was out of shame or some- thing. How do you tell somebody, ‘Hey, this guy was touching me’?” Chapman and his fam- ily were good friends with and lived close to Spen- cer’s foster family, he said. Chapman continued molesting him, in the car while giving him rides home from church, and in the swimming pool during youth activities, Spencer said. In all, he was abused maybe 10 times over a couple of years, he said. One day, Spencer was in the attic installing the top end of aceiling fan. He peered through the ceiling hole into aroom and saw Chapman grab another boy, he said. “I said, ‘Enough’s enough. This guy’s going to screw somebody else up,’” Spencer said, and the story came out. His foster parents were “mad as hell at me, for exposing FRED BLOCHER Kansas CityStar it and bringing them some Brad Tebbutt nowworks forInternational House of Prayer of Kansas Cityasdirector of the Simeon Internship,aprogramfor people 50 and older. sort of shame,” he said. “I was not very happy with First Baptist, either,” FROM PAGE 1A youth pastor during a situation,” Roach said. “At “We believe every person By the time Roach Spencer said. “They kind youth activity at the form- first, they didn’t believe is created in God’s image sought help in early 1989, of pushed me aside as er Roller King. me. At subsequent meet- and is deeply loved by it’s possible that church well. Ihad been extremely ABUSE “I knew she was sad a ings they kept asking me if God. We believe people leaders were suffering involved, at every activity. lot. Icould tell she was Iwanted to take my story should be free of any kind from scandal fatigue. After Italked about Bob, I morial service for murder carrying something heavy. back. They asked if Iwas of abuse, which is why we was kind of an outcast.” victim Laci Peterson and So Ijust asked her what just doing this for atten- are constantly working CHILD MOLESTERSIN Boys in the group were her unborn son, Conner. was going on,” said Scott tion. toward greater account- CHURCH questioned, and Chapman The downtown church, on Mills. “I imagine she was “At one point they put ability and security. It Ayear before Tebbutt was charged in Stanislaus 12th Street, also has at the point of having to me in aroom with four or breaks my heart that left Modesto, Bob Chap- County Superior Court opened its doors to serv- tell somebody or implode. five adult men and they anyone could be abused in man, then 53,pleaded with abusing Spencer and ices for downed law en- You have to get that out asked me to describe with any context. guilty to molesting 13- two others. “We were all forcement, including CHP somehow.” specific words what had “It’s important that year-old boys he met at saying, ‘Fry him; give him officer Earl Scott, Ripon Mills later started and happened. And Iwas a victims be believed,” First Baptist. as much time as you Police Officer Bob Winget pastored his own church 17-year-old girl. Whiteford continued, Chapman, achurch can,’” Spencer said. A and Stanislaus Deputy in Modesto, Three Rivers “They failed to tell my “and that they speak up, organist, was entrusted to negotiated deal ended Sheriff Jason Garner. Gov. Christian Fellowship, for mom. Iwas aminor and to protect from other hold meetings of groups with Chapman pleading Jerry Brown attended the 14 years before leaving in they kept it from my fam- abuse.” of boys in his Modesto guilty to two counts of funeral of Deputy Dennis 2013 for acareer in mar- ily. They should have CrossPoint now does home, said one of them, child molestation in re- Wallace at CrossPoint in keting. reported it to police and background and finger- Larry Spencer. One time, turn for a300-day term in 2016. “Knowing what Ido they didn’t. They told me printing checks on its Chapman hosted asleep- County Jail. The Modesto Bee’s about life and kids and never to speak about this 27-person staff plus volun- over. The evening dis- Yaeger spoke on Chap- archive cites church mem- parents and peer influence again.” teers working with chil- cussion was about puberty man’s behalf at his sen- bership exceeding 3,000 and hurt and pain and In those days and until dren, and requires them to and masturbation, Spen- tencing. in years past. Lead pastor damage, it grieves me he retired in 1991, Bill go through abuse preven- cer said. Then they Roach finds that image Matt Whiteford says it’s greatly,” Mills said. “Not Yaeger was senior pastor tion training every two watched movies and drift- more than 1,000 these only what happened to at First Baptist; he died in years. ed off to sleep. SEE ABUSE, 8A days. her, but that she didn’t 2005. After Yaeger, Wade In the late 1970sand feel she had the support Estes led the church until early ’80s, First Baptist she needed. Looking back, giving the reins to White- Church was “my whole I’m pained by the lack of ford in late 2009, and it world, in alot of ways,” appropriate response.” was renamed CrossPoint recalled Roach, who at- shortly after. tended Sunday services, IT’S NOTTHE SIN.IT’S “I have zero firsthand midweek youth activities THE COVER-UP knowledge of this,” and summer camp. “I What was the church’s Whiteford said in arecent loved it. It was asecond response? phone interview. family to me.” “They completely and Asked about clergy When her father died in entirely mishandled the abuse in general, he said, acar accident, her mother had trouble coping with three teen children. Roach often was depressed as well, she said, and thought about harming herself. She brightened when the youth pastor in charge of Beyer High paid her attention. She thought her prayers had been answered when Tebbutt and his wife invited her to stay in their apartment, at first overnight, then indef- initely. “They saved me from a difficult situation at home,” Roach said. “There was lots of affir- mation; ‘You’re aspecial case,’ he would tell me. ‘You’re the prettiest, the smartest, the funniest’ – things you would tell someone to get them to trust you. Iabsolutely was groomed for abuse.” Sexual encounters went 1 on for 2 ⁄2 years, she said. “He became my entire emotional support, and I was this vulnerable, de- pressed, anxious girl who had just lost her dad and couldn’t get along with her mom and had no oth- er options. At that age, I didn’t feel Ihad other choices, and he took ad- vantage of that.” Roach wondered why she didn’t become preg- nant. After marrying, she didn’t conceive for five years. “Fertility doesn’t come easy to me,” she said. When Tebbutt left town, she remained silent for six months. Reading Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” in her senior year at Beyer, adark work about terrible secrets, prompted her to confide in another 8A SUNDAY FEBRUARY252018 Coverstory MODBEE.COM

reporting and testifying against abusers. On the other hand, it’s not unusu- al for church leaders to circle the wagons when a member has been victi- mized, she said. “I’ve had victims’ par- ents tell me, ‘We don’t want anything done. The church is going to help us.’ And they don’t let her be interviewed” by law enforcement, Rees said. “The hardest part (of the job) is cases we can’t go forward on. Those are the ones that keep you up at night.” Mills said, “The bigger an organization is, the more difficult it is to see the needs of individuals. The needs of the organi- zation begin to take prece- dence.” Brown and others have opined on the public- sermon confession of Andy Savage, apastor at a Memphis megachurch who 20 years earlier had driven ahigh school girl to asecluded area and had her perform oral sex. After being outed and apol- ogizing during aJan. 5 worship service, some in DAVIDPULLIAM Kansas CityStar the audience gave him a Multiple calls to Brad Tebbutt’soffice at International House of Prayer of Kansas Cityhavegone unanswered. standing ovation, but resulting backlash forced him to take aleave of FROM PAGE 6A suspected of molest at the gest Austin had about 10 been sexually abusing a over again.” absence pending achurch First Baptist Church and victims in all. One spoke girl in his youth group “Hundreds of victims investigation. AChristian was sent on his way, he when he was sentenced may have come on the have told me that when publisher canceled Sav- ABUSE then went to the Orange- for 12 counts of child heels of the Chapman and they tried to make are- age’s book, “The Ridicu- burg Baptist Church, molestation, including Austin cases. port within the faith com- lously Good Marriage,” to “so sad and depressing. where he was ayouth oral copulation. That alone doesn’t ex- munity, it seemed even be released this year; he It’s as if he is saying to the leader and where he then “It’s alot to live with, plain why the church worse than the damage of wrote another on mar- parents of the church, ‘If molested” twobrothers knowing you’re molest- reacted the way it did, the abuse itself,” Brown riage two years ago. something happens to multiple times, said then- ed,” the young man said, said Christa Brown, who said. “The church culture Another pastor, Larry your kid here, we will not prosecutor John Goulart, according to atranscript. has been writing about enables these coverups. Cotton, was caught in the take your side.’ It’s the according to acourt tran- “It’s ahell of alot. He was Baptist clergy abuse for 12 The notion that you better wake and resigned from typical Christian thing of script. The brothers were 7 like afather figure to me. years. Long ago, at age 17, forgive and the grace of his Texas church afew forgive the abuser and and 11,acharging docu- For along time there I she was forced to apol- God will redeem him is days ago. When the girl, blame the victim.” ment said. called him ‘Dad,’ even ogize to the wife of the lovely sounding in the Jules Woodson, had Spencer wonders how Goulart, now on Modes- though he was molesting pastor who had abused abstract, but it can get confided in him back in his life might have been to City Hall’s legal team, me. He was still the only her, and much of her work twisted to be enabling. 1998, Cotton reportedly different if he hadn’t been doesn’t remember specif- father figure Iever had in focuses on the powerful There need to be conse- told her to keep quiet. violated. ics. “Most likely, it would my life. “institution that tried to quences for cover-up- “I think it screwed up have been the parents of “He left avery damag- silence me.” pers.” ‘DAMAGE AND my relationships, my abil- victims who would have ing scar. Ijust wanted to Roach’s story “fits that Annette Rees, who has DEVASTATION’ ity to have adecent rela- told me that the First say that Ifeel he has dam- pattern perfectly of what prosecuted abuse crimes “Church is one of the tionship. But Ican’t swear Baptist Church discovered aged all of our lives, and I we’ve seen in so many in Stanislaus County for least safe places to ac- that’s the reason. It could the molests, (dismissed) trust you to decide. other Baptist clergy 16 years, is heartened knowledge abuse because be from other things in Austin and allowed him to Amen.” cases,” Brown said, where when churches lovingly the way it is counseled is, my past,” said Spencer, move on to another The judge gave Austin a victims are “shamed, support avictim through who grew up afoster church where he was in a 28-year sentence. Now blamed and slammed all the difficult process of SEEABUSE,9A child, married three times position to commit more 80,helives in acare and now lives in the Do- molests,” Goulart said in a home for the elderly in minican Republic running recent email. Modesto. an English-speaking call Austin had taken boys AModesto man who center. on trips to his former was part of the boys group patrol office, to Santa at First Baptist, but who VIOLATING TRUST Cruz, to Great America, was not molested, said, “I About the time of Chap- and camping in the moun- remember we were pretty man’s conviction, George tains. “These boys were shocked” to learn of the Austin, aretired Cali- looking up to this man as abuse. “But leadership fornia Highway Patrol afather figure, ayouth dealt with it well. Ididn’t officer and Sunday School leader, aretired CHP feel they tried to cover teacher at First Baptist, officer, someone they anything up.” He asked was molesting boys as trusted,” Goulart said in not to be identified. well. Court documents the transcript. “He put indicate that someone got himself in aposition SAVING FACE,NOT the idea something was where he could molest the GRACE going on. boys.” The revelation in 1989 “When (Austin) became Court documents sug- that ayouth pastor had SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25 2018 9A MODBEE.COM News

FROM PAGE 8A Dale Anderson, the hurts that you should have church’s director of pasto- never experienced, and ral support. they were not yours to ABUSE Tebbutt’s other known own. Igrieve over this.” Deportations LET ME STATE employers over the years, Most victims of sexual more often than not, da- CLEARLYTHAT having been informed of abuse would love to re- maging to the victim,” ‘‘REGARDLESS OF Roach’s story, failed to ceive such aletter ad- targeting said Rachael Denhollan- respond to multiple re- mitting guilt, said Roach. der in arecent interview HOW THIS HAS quests for information. While she specializes in with Christianity Today. They include Horizon substance abuse among She was the first to accuse BEENTREATED Community Church and the mentally ill, she also people with Larry Nassar, the former IN THE PAST,I Horizon Christian School, counsels souls broken in USA Gymnastics team near Portland, where he prostitution. doctor who abused hun- UNDERSTAND was achaplain and teach- Roach questions the dreds of girls and was THATISEXUALLY er, and the International hypocrisy in preaching no records sentenced to up to 175 House of Prayer of Kansas virtue while violating a years in prison. ABUSED YOU. City, where Tebbutt now teen girl for 21/2 years, “There is an abhorrent works; aspokesman re- then continuing in minis- BY ELLIOT SPAGAT THE ADMINIS- lack of knowledge forthe Letter from Brad Tebbutt ferred The Bee’s sister try for three decades. Associated Press TRATION HAS SAID damage anddevastation to Jennifer Roachin2005 company, The Kansas “If you touch kids, that sexual assaultbrings,” City Star, to IHOPKC’s you’ve taken yourself out SAN DIEGO PEOPLE WITH continued Denhollander, media policy, which reads: of the pile of people that People arrestedbyde- CRIMINAL who said she was shunned apology,” Jacobo said, and “We will not give out get to call themselves portation officers increas- by her congregationwhen “seemed satisfied with the sensitive information.” ministers. You’ve dis- ingly have no criminal HISTORIES REMAIN she went public. “It is with process and the results. I Afew months ago, the qualified yourself,” she backgrounds, according to APRIORITYBUT deep regret that Isay the feel like we did everything publishing arm of said. “If you want to make figures releasedFriday, church is one of the worst we knew to do in address- MorningStar Ministries money off your degree, go reflecting the Trumpad- THATNOONE IN places to go for help.That’s ing it. If she now feels this released aDVD of a write abook or do some- ministration’s commit- THE COUNTRY ahard thing to say because was insufficient, then we conference featuring sev- thing else. You do not ment to cast awider net. Iamavery conservative sincerely apologize.” eral presenters, including deserve to be in charge of U.S. Immigrationand ILLEGALLYIS evangelical, but that is the Roach called that “a Tebbutt, called “Motiva- vulnerable people who are Customs Enforcement IMMUNE. truth. Thereare very, very ‘sorry-she-got-her-feel- ted by Love.” The compa- looking to you for guid- said 65 percentofarrests few who have ever found ings-hurt’ apology.” ny’s founder and exec- ance.” from October to Decem- true help in the church.” It’s true that church utive director, Rick Joyn- What about the bedrock ber were criminals, com- Tebbutt can’t be prose- leaders scripted an ar- er, declined to comment. Christian principle of pared with82percent The administration has cuted, local authorities ranged meeting afew Tebbutt’s latest position forgiveness? duringthe final fullthree said people with criminal said, because the statute years after the abuse end- is director of the Simeon “It’s not something that months of the Obama histories remain apriority of limitations for such ed, where Tebbutt said he Internship, athree-month can be forced,” Roach administration. but that no one in the crimes has long since was sorry and she was training program for peo- said. “Some days Ihave Looked at another way, country illegallyisim- expired. pressured to accept the ple 50 and older at the really great days and Ifeel arrests of criminals mune. Many with deep, In his recent letter to apology, she said. International House of like, yeah, Iforgive Mar- jumped 14 percent to longstanding ties in the The Bee, Jacobo, now The fallout for Tebbutt, Prayer of Kansas City. vin, Iforgive the church, I 25,626 from 22,484, but country who stayed out of executive director of City if any, is unclear. Multiple calls to his office forgive Brad, Iforgive all arrests of noncriminals trouble were allowed to Ministry Network in Mo- “There were no allega- went unanswered; in an those people who covered nearlytripledto13,548 stay under Obamabut are desto, said he didn’t go to tions of sexual misconduct email, Tebbutt asked if he this up. from 4,918. now ordered to leave. Modesto police about against Brad that we were should submit astate- “Then there are other Overall, there were LastFebruary, former Tebbutt 30 years ago aware of at the time he ment, then went silent for days where that’s not 39,174 deportation arrests HomelandSecurity Secre- because Roach “did not was hired,” said Randy three weeks. where Iamatall, and I’m from OctobertoDecem- tary JohnKelly, now want to press charges. We Shaw, field director with actually OK with that. I ber, up from 27,402 in the Trump’s chiefofstaff, wanted to honor her wish- the Christian and Mis- ‘I SEXUALLYABUSED don’t have to be aChris- final full three months of scrappedthe Obama ad- es in that and begin her sionary Alliance YOU’ tian machine who acts the Obamaadministra- ministration’s policy of process of healing.” Northwest in Oregon, Tebbutt did reach out to (through) programming. I tion. The 43 percentsurge limiting deportations to Like teachers, child care where Tebbutt worked Roach in 2005 with a get to have my own hu- is consistent with trends people who pose apublic workers and others, clergy from 1999 to 2004. lengthy letter, apparently man experience with this. since Trump took office. safety threat,convicted are mandated reporters, At some point, Tebbutt as an exercise in repent- If anything, that would be Duringthe 2017 fiscal criminals andthose who required to tell law en- went through an “18- ance; it arrived in an enve- my message to other peo- year, whichincluded near- havecrossed the border forcement when they month repentance and lope bearing the name of a ple who have gone ly four months under recently,effectively mak- come across or suspect restoration process” with Christian therapy group in through this: `You get to Obama, 74 percenthad ing anyone in the country abuse. But clergy weren’t apsychologist, according Oregon. The Bee obtained go through this how you criminal convictionsand illegally vulnerable. added to the list of occu- to anote recently sent to acopy. (decide), not as somebody 16 percenthad pending ICE’s Dallas field office pations, now 46 long, Roach from his church in “Let me state clearly else tells you to. You for- charges, according to ICE. tallied the most arrests until 1997, eight years Missouri, Forerunner that regardless of how this give when and how and The most common crimes during the latest three- after Roach exposed Teb- Christian Fellowship. He has been treated in the where you forgive.’” were driving under the month period,followed by butt to church leaders. “continues to express past, Iunderstand that I influence, drugs, other Atlanta and Houston. At the time, Roach ac- deep sadness and sorrow sexually abused you,” one Garth Stapley: trafficoffenses and im- cepted Tebbutt’s “direct over his actions,” wrote part reads. “There are 209-578-2390 migrationviolations. NATION SPORTS Republican, Dem It’ll be all Modesto on Senatepanel in boys basketball accuse House championship panel of leaking 5A game Saturday 1B

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Ex-Modesto pastor placed on leave at church in Missouri

CrossPoint Community Church He’s accused of abusing teen girl 3decades ago in 2010 and now has safeguards in place to protect againstsex- Courtesy of Jennifer Roach a30-year career in youth minis- to The Bee until after the story ual abuse by employees and Jennifer Roach of Bothell, Wash., BY GARTH STAPLEY try elsewhere before taking a was published. volunteers, its current lead says she wassexually abused as a [email protected] job directing aseniors mentor- “It’sall too easy for areli- pastor has said. teen by ayouth pastor in her ing program at the International gious organization to put apas- Roach,now 47,isanAnglican church in Modesto,. Aformer youthpastor ac- HouseofPrayerofKansas City. tor on administrative leave. But minister and therapist near cused of sexually abusing ateen “In light of the recentaccusa- it’s worth the observation that Seattle who counsels victims of girl three decadesago at Mo- tions against one of our staff they’veonly donethis on the sexual abuse, among other cli- leaders did not tell her mother desto’s First Baptist Church, as that took place over30years heels of amedia spotlight,”said ents. She is married and has a or authorities and instructed her revealedafew days ago in a ago, as is typical in situations of Christa Brown, who has been teenageson. to forgiveand forget, citing ModestoBee report, is now on these type of accusations, the writing about Baptist clergy At 14,Roach was distraught concern for “the reputation of leave at the religiousorganiza- staff member is on adminis- abuse for 12 years. over her father’s death in acar the church,and of Jesus him- tion where he’s been working in trativeleave whilethe veracity Before The Bee’s initial re- accident, she said, and at first self,”she said. Kansas City,Missouri. of these accusations is ascer- port, Tebbutt asked via email if she welcomed attention from Marvin Jacobo, now executive Brad Tebbutt groomed and tained,” said spokesman Adam he shouldsubmit astatement, the 27-year-old First Baptist director of City Ministry Net- took advantage of Jennifer Wittenberg in an emailThurs- then went silentfor three youth pastor in charge of stu- work in Modesto, said he didn’t Roach from ages14to17, she day. weeks. He did not respond to an dents at Modesto’s Beyer High go to Modesto police about said in The Bee’s report, and The International House of inquiry for this story. School. Soon he was kissing, Tebbutt 30 years ago because another clergyman formerly in Prayerlearnedofthe accusa- Putting him on leave “is an fondling and havingsex with Roach “did not wanttopress charge of youth pastors said tions in Bee inquiriesfour weeks appropriate action for any her, she said, and it went on for charges.” Tebbutt later went 1 Tebbutt confessed to him. The ago, and reachedout to Roach church in their situation,” 2 ⁄2 years. through an “18-month repent- abuse was not reported to au- regarding Tebbutt almost three Roach said Thursday. When she did comeforward thoritiesand Tebbutt went on to weeksago, butfailed to respond First Baptist changed to after Tebbutt left town,church SEE FORMER PASTOR,4A

Railways set to miss another safety deadline

BY KATE IRBY [email protected]

WASHINGTON Better late than never. But still not enough. Amajor U.S. rail transporta- tionwatchdog said Thursday thatprogress on rail safety is welcomed albeit tardy by years. “My boss worked in aviation for years, andhe’sbeen scratch- ing his head at howthis industry functions with the government,” said Sean Jeans-Gail, vicepresi- dent of government affairs for the National Association of Rail- way Passengers. Jeans-Gail said the government seems muchless organized in its oversight of rail- ways than over airways. Specifically, Amtrak and America’s other passenger rail companieswere given until the end of this year –afull decade – to implement what’s known as Positive Train Control systems. Mandated in 2008, it is an ad- ANDY ALFARO [email protected] vanced software system that Students at California StateUniversity, Stanislaus,leave classduring arainstorm in Turlock on Thursday. automaticallystops trains be- fore certain accidents occur, notablypotential train-to-train MORE INSIDE collisions and derailments due to excessive speeds. In single day, Marchovertakes Formoreabout the weather,goto2A Now, 10 years later, the non- partisanGovernment Account- Awind advisory that lasted ability Office found that two- all of Februaryinrainfall into the early eveningbrought thirds of 29 commuter railroads blustery conditions and was the maynot meet that deadline. cause of adownedpowerline Susan Fleming, GAO directorof BY BRIAN CLARK on ColoradoAvenue in Tur- physical infrastructure, said the [email protected] lock. Gusts reachednearly 45 more compliant railroads on mph to the north in Stockton. average needed two years just That didn't take long. More showers are expected for field testing, which other By Thursday afternoon –the Friday with thunderstorms pos- railways haven’t evenstarted. first day of March –the nearly sibly after 10 a.m. Similar condi- Passenger rail travel is rela- half-inch of rain that fell in tions will last until Sunday when tively safer compared with air or downtown Modesto eclipsed amostly sunny sky is forecast. highway travel. But therehave the total in all of February. Whiteout conditions closed beenfive deadly accidents just And, more is on the way. nearly 100 miles of U.S. In- on Amtrak in the past three The first in aseries of storms terstate 80 for several hours months, which contribute to a struck the San Joaquin Valley in Friday west of the Nevada-Cali- heightened sense of urgency. the early morning hours, bring- fornia line and chains or snow Among the fatalitieswere two ing 0.49 inches of rain by 4p.m., tires were required on all major killed in South Carolina,two in according to the Modesto Irriga- highways over the mountains. North Carolina,one in Cali- JOAN BARNETTLEE [email protected] tion District. Only 0.34inches of fornia, one in Virginia –caused People walk past the flowerclock in downtown ModestoonKStreet rain –mostly in the latter part of The Associated Press contributed on Thursday. Nearly half an inch of rain fell, and moreisexpected. the month –fell in February. to this report. SEE RAIL SAFETY, 4A

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still submitted bills of AROUND THE REGION approximately $15,000 MODESTO each for the studies and What: Dance studio grand opening 2chargedwith fraud received payments. When: Friday, 4to7p.m. Where: Ballet Folkorico Anahuac, 95010th St.(above Palladium) Zarrabi’s role, according Info: The public is invited to the grand opening of the Ballet to the indictment, was Folkloric Anahuac’s newdance studio.Therewill be dance demon- in Lap-Band business allowing his electronic strations and hors d’oeuvres.RSVP is requested. Formoreinforma- signature to be used by tion or to RSVP,call 209-605-5668. GET THIN to make it fornia freeways. Past law- appear he reviewed and What: Carnival Food Fundraiser Associated Press When: Friday, 5to8p.m. suits and public docu- interpreted the sleep stud- Where: Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road, Ste. 15 ments showed it was a ies even though he knew Info: The Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County invites veter- LOS ANGELES marketing company that the reports were being ans,their families and the public to its monthlyFourth Fridayofthe 37-count federal THECHARGES DO steered patients to anet- altered. He also allegedly month carnival food fundraiser.Visitors will be able to order from a indictment NOTHAVEANY work of outpatient clinics. was paid for use of his menu of various carnival food staples shuch as food on astick, deep charges two The federal indictment electronic signature on fried foods and desserts.The eventisfreetoenter,purchase re- LE‘‘GITIMACY. quired on all food items.For moreinformation, call 209-343-6292. Southern Cali- contains charges of mail prescriptions for devices forniaA doctors with fraud- AttorneyKamille Dean, fraud, wire fraud, false to treat sleep apnea al- What: SCOE Regional Science Olympiad ulently billing health in- representing Julian statements, moneylaun- though he did not review When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. surers for millions of dol- Omidi dering and aggravated the prescriptions. Where: ModestoJunior College West Campus,2201 Blue Gum lars for procedures related identity theft involving Prosecutors said compa- Ave. to the 1-800-GET-THIN activities between May nies victimized included Info: Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with an awards ceremonyat 4:30 p.m. The olympiad will showcase local science students from Lap-Band surgery busi- also falsified, according to 2010 andMarch 2016.It TriCare, Anthem Blue middle and high school, with some of the events events open to ness, the U.S. Attorney’s prosecutors. also names two corpora- Cross, UnitedHealthcare, spectators.Also,during the competition, the Great ValleyMuseum Office said. Prosecutors allege there tions, Surgery Center Man- Aetna and Cigna, among will be open and the planetarium will have presentations all day. For Julian Omidi, 49, of were more than $250 agementLLC and Inde- others. Acting U.S. At- moreinformation, contact Steven Murovat209-656-8187. West Hollywood and million in fraudulent bills pendentMedical Services torney Sandra R. Brown Mirali Zarrabi, 55,ofBe- and GET THIN received Inc., whichare both con- said patients were also What: NACCPFreedom Fund Banquet When: Saturday, 6p.m. verly Hills, were arrested at least $38million for trolled in part by Omidi, harmed by being sub- Where: Seasons Event Center, 945McHenryAve. Wednesday and both Lap-Band procedures. The whose medical license was jected to unnecessary Info: The Modesto/Stanislaus NAACPBranch 1048 will be honor- pleaded not guilty to the Lap-Band is adevice revokedin2009, thegov- medical procedures. ing organizations and individuals at its annual Freedom Fund Ban- charges in U.S. District placed around the stom- ernment said. About four years ago, quet fortheir contributions in the area of human services,social Court. ach in what is also known According to the U.S. the government seized justice and civil rights.Awardees include Advocates forJustice, King-Kennedy boardofdirectors,American Leadership Forum, The indictment alleges as bariatric surgery. Attorney’s Office, Omidi more than $110 million in Modesto Peace/Life Center, El Concilio, Sharon Froba, Marian Marti- ascheme that involved Alawyer representing partly controlled the GET funds and securities from no, Mack Wilson and Dr. Kimberly Kennard (posthumous). Tickets requiring prospective Omidi denounced the THIN network and estab- individuals and entities are $65, and at the door while supplies last. For more information or patients to undergo sleep indictment as being based lished procedures requir- involved in the alleged to purchase tickets online, visit www.naacpModestoStanislaus.org. studies that were falsified on false claims. ing each patient to have at scheme and will seek to show an additional “Thecharges do not least one sleep study and forfeiture of the funds “co-morbidity” reason have any legitimacy,” at- used commissions to give through the criminal case DENAIR What: Turlock Sunrise RotaryCrabFeed such as sleep apnea to torney Kamille Dean said employees incentives to and civil process. City When: Saturday, 6 p.m. gain approval for elective inastatementThursday. make sure they occurred. News Service reported Where: Larsa Banquet Hall, 2107 E. Monte Vista Ave. weight-loss surgeries. Giant 1-800-GET-THIN Even when insurance that Zarrabi’s attorney, Info: Doors open at 6 p.m. and crab dinner will be served at 7 Other information such as billboards were once com- companies did not autho- Thomas O’Brien, declined p.m. The cost is $65 per person and tables mayalso be available for heights and weights was mon along Southern Cali- rize surgeries, GET THIN comment Wednesday. sale. The Dinner menu consists of salad with raspberryvinaigrette dressing, pestopasta, bread, and crab.Ano-host bar will also be available. Livemusic by the band Livin’will followdinner.All pro- ceeds areused to fund local projects.For moreinformation or to purchase tickets,contact Eric Julien at 209-402-0062. Lifehouse to HUGHSON What: Hughson Arboretum and Gardens Pruning Classes When: Saturday, 8a.m. Where: Hughson Arboretum, 2490 Euclid Ave. playStanislaus Info: The Hughson Arboretum and Gardens will be hosting no-cost tree pruning classes.Registration is at 8a.m. with the first classstarting at 8:30 a.m. Therewill also be twomoreclasses at 9a.m. and at 10 a.m. Instruction will be by Daniel Bote, acertified County Fair arborist with Central ValleyTrees and Landscaping Services Inc. Formoreinformation, email MikeDunn at mikedunndesign@ yahoo.com. this summer

TURLOCK What: Total Knee ReplacementSeminar Wednesday, 5p.m. include the 2001 debut When: BY PAT CLARK AP filephoto Where: Turlock Care Center, 3100 Christoffersen Pkwy. single“Hanging By a Info: The Sutter Gould Medical Foundation invites the public to a [email protected] Moment,” whichspent20 The pop/rock band Lifehouse had ahit with its 2001 free communityseminar on total knee replacementatthe Turlock weeksonthe Billboard debut single, “Hanging By aMoment.” Care Center. The presentation will be led by Michael Temnyk, M.D., The Stanislaus County Top 10 charts. Other hits orthopedic surgeon, who will discusssurgical and nonsurgical Fair dips into the pop/ off the band’s seven al- treatmentoptions forknee jointpain. Visitors will learn about con- servativetreatments forarthritic joints; howtoknowifit’stime for rock genrewith the latest bums are “You and Me,” low-sounding voice that is Other actsannounced jointreplacement; and which tools and techniques areimproving band announcedtoplay “FirstTime,” “Whatever easytoget lost in,” said so far this year include outcomes forthose procedures.Therewill be aQ&A session after- during the 2018 expo. It Takes,” “Broken,” Adrenna Alkhas, spokes- Trace Atkins,Salt-N- ward,and visitors will also hear from partners at Golden Bear Phys- Lifehouse will take to “Halfway Gone,” “Be- woman for the Stanislaus Peppa, Grand Funk Rail- ical Therapyand apatientwho had atotal knee replacement. For the fair’s Variety Free tween the Raindrops” and County Fair.“Those who road and EastonCorbin. moreinformation or to RSVP forthis event; contact the SGMF Stage on Wednesday, July “Hurricane.” listened to them in the The concerts are free with CommunityHealth Education Departmentat209-548-7860,select option 2, by Friday. 18, according to anews “Lead vocalist, Jason early 2000sare definitely the priceofadmission. release. The band’s hits Wade, has such aunique, in for anostalgic treat.” Send Region items to Region, The ModestoBee, P.O. Box5256, Modesto95352; call 209-578-2330; fax209-578-2207; or email [email protected]. FROM PAGE 1A FROM PAGE 1A 75 YEARSAGO: MontgomeryWardadvertised it had asale going on that wasexpected to end Saturday. Of the manymen’s,women’s and children’s clothing and accessories being sold, therewas asale FORMER PASTOR RAIL SAFETY on men’s workboots.The boots sold for$2.79 to $4.47,based on material and purpose. The cheapest pair of boots were theElk ance and restoration pro- quences, this will keep by atrain carrying Repub- ing on the latest delay. Tanned EconomyGrade for$2.79,and the most expensivewerethe cess” with apsychologist, happening.” lican members of Con- “If (the delay is due to) Ward’s Best QualityOil Tanned work shoes formen for$4.47. apastor at his Missouri Jacobo and Matt White- gress to aretreat –and alack of commitment, it’s church said in arecent ford, CrossPoint’s lead three in Washington state, aserious, serious issue, email to Roach. pastor, did not respond to in addition to hundreds of because we have people FROM PAGE 3A Carcione argued in the Tebbutt can’t be prose- inquiries for this story. injuries. dying on our roads,” Pe- lawsuit that the school cuted, local authorities Whiteford took the helm While more recent ters said. district “recklessly” failed said, because the statute at CrossPoint five years crash causes are still un- Rob Healy, vice presi- PARTY to monitor its employee. of limitations for such ago; Bill Yaeger, the top der investigation, Barry dent of government af- San Joaquin County crimes has long since leader of its predecessor, DeWeese, assistant in- fairs for the American said her son’s friend called sheriff’s officials ques- expired. First Baptist, when Teb- spector general for surface Public Transportation to tellher the boy had been tioned Spence after seeing Roach said achurch butt was employed here, transportation audits with Association, said all com- drinking and was unre- the boy at the hospital that’s serious about look- died in 2005. the Department of Trans- muter railroads have been sponsive. She arrivedatthe that night. Spence was ing into clergy abuse Founded in 1999, the portation, said the Wash- “working diligently” to home at about10:45p.m. cited for misdemeanor might hire outside experts International House of ington crash would have implement the system. If and foundher son on the charges and released. with skilled investigators, Prayer is a24/7mission been prevented by the they don’t meet the 2018 back porch. Sheriff’s officials forward- noting one led by the late with world headquarters mandated safety mea- deadline, they’re working About 15 minutes later, ed the case to the San Billy Graham’s grandson. in Kansas City. Tebbutt’s sures. to at least qualify for a her son arrived at the Joaquin County District “Looking into not only bio says he has been mar- Still, Amtrak President maximum two-year exten- hospital and remained Attorney’s Office. these accusations, but ried 36 years and has two and CEO Richard An- sion the Federal Railroad there until 4a.m. She has Afew months after the hopefully also trying to children. He leads the derson told acongression- Administration can grant said atest showed ablood Escalon party, prosecutors find out what other con- Simeon Company In- al committee Thursday it to commuter railroads alcohol content level of formally charged Spence tact he’s had with vul- ternship at IHOPKC, was “highly probable” with “sufficient progress” 0.25percent, that’s more with misdemeanor con- nerable people, is agood described as “a training that some of its systems without congressional than three times the legal tributing to the delin- thing,” Brown said. How- experience and mentoring would not meet the dead- action. limit of 0.08for drivers. quency of aminor. The ever, “what about all the community for those 50 line for those safety en- Despite harsh words The lawsuit claims the criminal case is scheduled other people who knew, and older” who “desire to hancements. from senators over the defendants knew or should for ajury trial assignment who for 30 years could give their lives more fully Railway executives said railways’ lagging safety have known students were on April 6. have raised some question to prayer, worship, the the issue was not aman- efforts during the Com- or might be drinking alco- The civil case against of whether this guy was fit ministry of the Holy Spirit, ner of money, but of time merce, Science and Trans- hol, and kneworshould the school district, Spence to be working in aposition outreach, and works of and finding the expertise portation Committee have known that the teen- and Corwin is scheduled of trust, and kept their justice.” to install proper software. hearing, it’s unclear if the age boy required imme- for its first court appear- mouths zipped until this The Department of Trans- companies will face penal- diate medicalattention that ance on July 25 for acase media coverage? Until the Garth Stapley: portation has already ties over missing the latest night. management conference. cover-uppers face conse- 209-578-2390 provided $3 billion in deadline. federal funding to imple- Committee Chairman ment the system. John Thune, R-S.D., told Anderson said there McClatchy he would not FROM PAGE 3A CeresHigh. could be “significant can- consider another deadline Nicolich confessed her SETTING IT cellations of necessary extension, but said shut- effort to bring “Suicide: STRAIGHT railroad operations” that ting down hundreds of SUICIDEMOVIE The Ripple Effect” to Regal carry “hundreds of thou- miles of rails would be a isn’t entirely selfless. We wanttomake sure the sands of people per day,” “major issue.” led him to attempt sui- arts degree in exercise “I want to see it myself, information in this paper without adeadline exten- “There could be fi- cide,Nicolich said, but he science in 2014 from Be- so this is agood way to get is accurate. Please call sion, echoing the same nancial penalties, but I works to overcome them. thany College in Kansas. to do that.” mistakes to our attention, concerns from 2015. think it’s alittle prelimi- Of herself, she said, “I “After graduating, I so we may correctthem. Senators were outraged. nary to talk about at this haveamentalillness but I became asubstitute teach- Tickets to “Suicide: The “They’re not spending the point because I’m hoping live with it, Iaccept it, and er,” Nicolich said. “I will Ripple Effect” are sold at Local News...... 578-2330 money, and they’ve had they’re going to (meet the I’m stronger for it.” be afull-time teacher by https://gathr.us/screening/ City Desk...... 578-2327 the time, so is this aques- deadline), and we want to The Enochs High School August.” 22566 for $9.25. Work &Money...578-2343 tion of commitment?” help them in any way that softball standout and grad- And for asecond year, Features ...... 578-2312 asked Sen. Gary Peters, we can,” Thune said after uate earned her bachelorof she’s coaching softball for Sports...... 578-2300 D-Mich., at aSenate hear- the hearing had ended. LOCAL SPORTS Chinese syndicate MJC quarterback behind Calaveras drawsscholarship indoor marijuana interest from grows, feds say 3A Montana State 1B

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elsewhere beforebeing hired to lead aseniors internship pro- DAclears gram in Kansas City. Independentprobe The investigationbyGRACE, anonprofit basedin Virginia, officers in will stretch from Tebbutt’smin- istry with First Baptist in Mo- suspect’s forex-youth pastor desto to subsequent yearswith HorizonChristian High School near Portland, Ore., as well as death that,” Roach said VIDEO his timewith IHOPKC, said BY GARTH STAPLEY of GRACE’s “im- GRACE’s Basyle“Boz” Tchivid- [email protected] peccable creden- Allegedsexual abuse victim talks jian, in an email. BY KEVIN VALINE tials.” She said, about what happened at Modesto “Due to the factthat this is an [email protected] Aformer youth minister at a “I trust them, and church. modbee.com ongoinginvestigation, we can- prominent Modesto church (a third-party not make any furtherstate- The Stanislaus County 1 accused of sexually abusinga investigation) is about 2 ⁄2 years startingwhen ments at this time,” Tchividjian District Attorney’s Office has then-teen girl three decades ago Brad what I’ve been she was 14,shortlyafter losing said. He is aformer child abuse clearedModesto police offi- is the target of an upcoming Tebbutt pushing for.” her father in acar accident,she prosecutor and grandson of cers in the 2016 death of a independent investigation. The Kansas told The Bee.Hewas 27 and Graham, the nation’s most homeless drug addict who GRACE, or GodlyResponse City Star, asister paper to The married. well-knownChristian evangelist authorities say chargedthe to Abuseinthe Christian Envi- Modesto Bee in the McClatchy IHOPKC cited“inconsis- who died in February at age 99. officers and then fought with ronment, led by agrandsonof company, also received confir- tencies between the parties’ Tchividjian also is aprofessorat them as they subdued him. the late Billy Graham,will con- mationFriday morning from the accounts of what took place30 LibertyUniversity Schoolof Officers responded to duct the probe of BradTebbutt, InternationalHouse of Prayerof years ago” in an emailtothe Law. Grantland Court, off Morris whonow works for areligious KansasCity. That group had Kansas City newspaper. Tebbutt Roach said,“The idea that Avenue, on Oct. 24, 2016, organizationinMissouri, placedTebbutt on leave March will remain on leave, IHOPKC potentially othervictimscould after residents had called GRACE confirmedtoThe Mo- 1afteraFebruary Bee report said. be found and receivesome help 911saying the desto Bee late Thursday. that included aModesto clergy- FirstBaptist, whichchanged is immensely satisfying.” She man –later Thealleged victiminModes- man sayingTebbutt had con- to CrossPoint Community now is an Anglican minister and identified as to, Jennifer Graves Roach,now fessed to him aboutthe abuse. Church in 2010, did not refer therapist near Seattlewho coun- Garrett 47,said she will cooperate with Tebbutt workedfor Modes- the girl’s report to authorities sels victimsofsexual abuse, Schmidt, 33 – the investigation. to’s First Baptist Church when and Tebbutt went on to a30- had been “You don’t get better than he sexuallyabused Roachfor yearcareerinyouth ministry SEE INVESTIGATION,2A breaking into homes, ap- peared to be Garrett under the Schmidt influence and was on arampage. Officers used Tasers in drive-stun mode, which involves placing the Taser against the body and deliv- ering apainful shock, and a beanbag shotgun in their effort to subdue Schmidt. After being handcuffed and stopping his resistance, Schmidt became unrespon- sive and CPR was started while he was on agurney, according to aDistrict At- torney’s Office letter dated April 2. The ambulance crew took Schmidt to the hospital. He suffered acardiac event there, was placed on life support and later died. “The evidence leads me to the conclusion that the offi- cers acted lawfully under the circumstances ...,” Assistant District Attorney David Harris wrote in the letter. “Schmidt had committed multiple felony offenses, violently resisted arrest and attempted to escape. “The officers were justi- ANDY ALFARO [email protected] fied in the actions they took. Modestocitywastewaterworker George Toledo suctions backed-up storm wateronCarverRoadinModesto on Friday. ... They did not use exces- sive force, as noted by third- party witnesses, and would have been remiss in their 4,500 cubic feet per second duties if they had allowed over the next few days. Friday Schmidt to escape to contin- Rain clouds let loose overarea; afternoon, it was about 4,900 ue his rampage. ... Mr. cfs. Schmidt’s death, though “We will continue to monitor unfortunate, was not caused no major problems reported Dry Creek and, should the area by the officers and they bear receive asubstantial amount of no legal liability for it.” localized rainfall, TID will take The letter was sent to BY DEKE FARROW steps to maintain river flows to police Chief Galen Carroll [email protected] around 4,500 cfs at Ninth and Sheriff Adam Christian- Street in Modesto,” its update son. (Carroll said two depu- owntown Modesto said. ties were on scene, but the was expected to have Storm drains in Modesto had letter makes no reference to received more than an some trouble keeping up with them taking part in sub- inch of rain by the end the downpour, requiring drivers duing Schmidt.) Dof Friday. to take it slow as they drove Apathologist listed By 7p.m., exactly an inch had through street flooding. Apolice Schmidt’s cause of death as been recorded by the Modesto sergeant said shortly before 5 aheart attack and his brain Irrigation District, and the Na- p.m. that there’d been “just a being deprived of oxygen, tional Weather Service predic- few” traffic-collision calls dur- according to the letter. ted between aquarter- and a ing the day, and nothing major. The pathologist listed the half-inch more would fall during The California Highway Pa- contributing factors as the night. trol’s traffic incident informa- methamphetamine intoxica- There’s a90percent chance tion page online also was free of tion, cannabinoid abuse, of additional rain Saturday, the major crashes in the Modesto coronary artery disease and weather service says. New pre- ANDY ALFARO [email protected] area Friday. struggling with the officers. cipitation amounts could be Stormwaterflows into DryCreek at Moose Park in Modestoon Sunday and Monday are ex- Schmidt’s parents last between aquarter and half inch. Friday. By evening,aninch of rain had been recorded in the area. pected to be mostly sunny, be- year sued the city of Modes- “The warm and wet nature of fore achance of showers returns to, alleging officers had used the storm will likely increase on amostly cloudy Tuesday. excessive force and caused snowmelt runoff, especially at in effect for the Modesto area ations at Don Pedro, reported Wednesday should be partly Schmidt’s death. The city the lower mountain elevations,” until 11 a.m.Sunday. Thursday that it planned to sunny, followed by another recently settled the lawsuit according to aweather service Turlock Irrigation District, keep Tuolumne River flows chance of showers that night for $75,000 plus the par- update Friday. Aflood watch is which manages reservoir oper- below La Grange Dam at about and into Thursday. ents’ legal costs.

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...... MODESTO 5-DAYFORECAST PEOPLE BIRTHDAYS LUCKY NUMBERS DRAWN FRIDAY Kimmel clashes Countrysinger BobbyBare is 83.Actress Roberta Shore is MEGAMILLIONS with Hannity over 75.Singer Patricia Bennett is Friday($45 million) Melania Trump 71.Singer John Oates is 70. The outlook Today Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Singer Janis Ian is 67.Country 163351546720 joke musician John Dittrich is 67. Nextdraw: Tuesday AFlood Watch 70/ 47 72/49 79/52 70/ 49 74/ 52 Actor Jackie Chan is 64. Actor remains in effect 95 percent Sunny. Mostly sunny. 30 percent 30 percent Russell Crowe is 54. Actor Bill Fantasy 5 319272832 chance of rain Northwest Northwest chance of rain chance of rain According to Jimmy Bellamy is 53. Rock musician through 11 a.m. on showers. wind 15 mph. wind 10 mph. showers. showers late. Kimmel,hewas just Daily 4 6293 Sunday. minding his own business Dave “Yorkie” Palmer is 53. Daily 3Midday 751 ASK SCOOPY: Tornadoes have not occurred on which continent? Rock musician Charlie Hall is -Answer below Thursday morning when Daily 3Evening 956 44. Actress is Heather Burns Daily Derby 9511 AIR QUALITY ALLERGYREPORT he found out he was at 43.Christian rock singer- Sacramento Today’sforecast RACE TIME:1:49.71 Sat war with the good “peo- musician John Cooper is 43. 67/45/t based on PM2.5: Sun ple” –Kimmel’s air quotes Actor Kevin Alejandro is 42. Good Mon –atFox News. Rock musician Ben McKee is PAST DRAWS Napa Moderate low med high “Because there’s noth- 33.Actor Ed Speleers is 30. POWERBALL 64/44/r Rio Vista Unhealthy for Predominant Pollens: ing important going on in Actor Conner Rayburn is 19. Wednesday($60 million) 65/45/t sensitive groups Grass. Unhealthy the country right now, Stockton —ASSOCIATED PRESS No data BURN RULES County status (Sean) Hannity and his 82442546424 68/46/sh KEY: ...... Moreinformation at San Joaquin No burning fellow Fox News ‘people’ Winner: None www.sparetheair.com No burning spent alot of time talking Today Merced unless Nextdraw: Manteca registered about me today,” he ex- The late-night host gave ($74 million) Stanislaus No plained on Thursday Hannity ahot tip on how 68/47/sh restrictions, San Call: 800-766-4463 burning night’s episode of “Jimmy he might better protect Livermore Modesto SUPERLOTTO PLUS Francisco Online: valleyair.org discouraged Kimmel Live.” the first lady from punch- 61/50/r 63/45/r 70/47/r Wednesday($23million) FIREDANGER Hannity took issue with lines. Atwater 31215243623 Patterson Turlock 70/45/r Forecast acomment Kimmel made “You know what Ithink San Jose 70/47/sh 70/47/sh Extreme Monday night about Mela- is disrespectful to the first Winner: None 66/48/r Very high nia Trump’s accent, which lady?” Kimmel asked. 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historic floods. announcement about the “We North Dakotans deployment plan, he add- Possible forgovernors to know from experience ed. how critical it is for states While California Gov. to support each other in Jerry Brown has not spo- times of need,” Burgum ken publicly about sayno to trooprequest said. Trump’s plan, California Oregon Gov. Kate National Guard spokes- Brown has said she would man Lt. Col. Tom Keegan fourth border state, Cali- Wednesday did not men- with governors of the deny Trump’s request. said any request “will be BY ANDREW SELSKY fornia, has been silent on tion Title 10. Southwest border states. “As commander of promptly reviewed to AND TOM JAMES the issue. Arizona’s Republican It’s unclear if Trump Oregon’s Guard, I’m determine how best we Associated Press Trump’s order invoked Gov. Doug Ducey said will ask for troops from deeply troubled by can assist our federal SALEM,ORE. afederal law called Title about 150Guard mem- states other than those Trump’s plan to militarize partners.” resident Donald 32,under which governors bers will deploy next along the border. our border,” Brown tweet- Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Trump’s plan to retain command and con- week. The GOP governors White House press ed. aRepublican, said Friday deploy National trol of Guard members of New Mexico and Texas secretary Sarah Huckabee Her spokesman, Bryan that she will consult with Guard troops to from their state, with the also back the plan. The Sanders described the Hockaday, said that if the head of the Alabama Pthe Mexico border has federal government pay- Texas Army National deployment as “a good Trump invoked Title 10, Guard to see what re- drawn resistance from ing for the deployment. Guard planned to deploy first step.” If the adminis- the president “can feder- sources are available. some governors, most of Another statute, known 250people to the border tration determines that alize the National Guard The deployments will them Democrats, and the as Title 10, establishes within three days. more troops are needed, forces, and there’s not not be the first time the law he invoked creates an that National Guard per- Trump said Thursday “we’ll make that decision much the governor can do National Guard has gone opening for them to turn sonnel operate under the that he wants to send at that time.” to prevent that.” to the U.S.-Mexico border. him down, officials said president’s control and 2,000 to 4,000 Guard Nevada Gov. Brian However, under Title Almost every U.S. state Friday. receive federal pay and members to the border to Sandoval, also aRepub- 32,agovernor could try to and territory contributed But so far, three of the benefits. The law also help federal officials fight lican, on Friday became reject arequest for troops Guard members to Oper- border states with Repub- forbids them from per- illegal immigration and one of the latest leaders to or order Guard members ation Jump Start, an- lican governors have en- forming tasks of civilian drug trafficking. Home- oppose Trump’s plan. His to remain in rear staging nounced by President dorsed the plan, and two, law enforcement unless land Security Secretary spokeswoman, Mary- areas and not participate. George W. Bush in 2006. Arizona and Texas, quick- explicitly authorized, Kirstjen Nielsen said on Sarah Kinner, said in an “If the president were to Around 30,000 Guard ly announced troop de- according to the Congres- Twitter that she had a email that Sandoval does deploy under Title 32, members eventually par- ployments. The Demo- sional Research Service. “productive conversation” not believe the mission he’d obviously have to ticipated, according to a cratic governor of the Trump’s order issued about the deployment would be “an appropriate have the approval of the 2008 National Guard use” of the Nevada governor,” Hockaday analysis, including more Guard. said, citing an assessment than 1,000 each from But North Dakota Gov. from the governor’s at- Kentucky, North Carolina FROM PAGE 1A abuse and trauma, as well Doug Burgum said his torney. Lawyers reviewed and South Carolina. as theologians and clergy state would “answer the all the pertinent legal members who have trau- call,” just as it has done in provisions as soon as INVESTIGATION ma and abuse experience. other times of need, like Brown’s office heard the “Our desire is to get to among other clients, and volunteers, its current the truth of the matter,” she is married and has a lead pastor has said. the website says, “so that teenage son. GRACE’s client list compassion and assist- She has awebsite pro- includes Bob Jones Uni- ance can be demonstrated viding information about versity, abastion of Chris- to those who have been clergy sexual abuse, and tian fundamentalism. For hurt and changes can recently posted an 11-page decades, the university happen on an organiza- pamphlet urging sexual had told sexual assault tional level.” abuse victims to speak up, victims that they were to IHOPKC was founded empowering themselves blame, and told them not in 1999. Tebbutt’s bio and others in the #MeToo to tell authorities, GRACE says he has been married movement. She provides said in 2014 findings. 36 years and has two tips for approaching According to its web- children. He had been media and details what site, GRACE helps devel- leading the organization’s people might expect in op child abuse prevention Simeon Company In- dealing with reporters, and safety programs for ternship, described as “a and the public’s reaction churches and Christian training experience and to their stories. organizations, conducts mentoring community for “Your voice is needed independent investiga- those 50 and older” who more than ever,” Roach tions into sexual abuse “desire to give their lives says in “Talking About It,” allegations and assists more fully to prayer, wor- the pamphlet. “Your brave churches and ministries ship, the ministry of the heart can set others free.” facing such allegations. Holy Spirit, outreach, and CrossPoint now has GRACE’s investigation works of justice.” safeguards in place to team includes child abuse protect against sexual prosecutors and psycholo- Garth Stapley: abuse by employees and gists with expertise in 209-578-2390 LOCAL SPORTS Thousands of Aspecial day SAVE UP TO $494 volunteers show forStanislaus IN COUPONS that theyLove County’s Special INSIDE Modesto 3A Olympians 1C

VOLUME 141,No. 112 FACEBOOK.COM/MODESTOBEE NEWSALL DAY. Sunny STAY CONNECTED MODBEE.COM TWITTER.COM/MODBEE YOUR WAY. SUNDAY APRIL 22 2018 $3 85°/54° See2A

ANALYSIS N. Korea can trade nuketests forrebuilt economy

BY CHOE SANG-HUN New York Times

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA For as long as Kim Jong Un has beenNorth Korea’s lead- er, he has called for the si- multaneous pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic growth with the aim of mak- ing the nationa“greatsocial- ist nuclear power.” On Saturday, however, Kim abruptly announced he was retiringhis signature policy, knownasbyungjin, or “paral- lel advance.” Thestrategy has been at the center of his govern- ment’s propagandaand is enshrined in the charter of the governing Workers’ Party. JOE [email protected] ButKim saiditwas now time Jane Berryhill of Colorado,left, and TracyEpler of Los Osos sharetheir stories about sexual abuse by pastor Les Hughey. Nowsenior pastor to adopta“new strategic at Highlands Church, anondenominational congregation in Scottsdale, Ariz., Hugheywas ayouth pastor at Modesto’sFirst Baptist Church. line” and focus the nation’s resources on rebuilding its economy. For two years in the 1970s, As for nuclear weapons, he from age 17 to 19, Tracy Epler essentially declared that mis- said she was coerced into hav- sion accomplished, saying Another ex-youth ing sex with Hughey, the pastor North Korea no longerneed- in charge of her youth group. ed to test long-rangemissiles When she finally informed First or atomic bombs and would Baptist leadership, she said, she close its onlyknown nuclear was told to bury the secret –the test site.Thebyungjin policy, pastor accused same direction given to Jennifer he said,already had achieved Graves Roach after Tebbutt a“greatvictory” –anarsenal sexually abused her adecade capable of deterring the na- later. tion’s enemies. “There is achance to heal,” Kim’s pivot from nuclear of sexual abuse Epler said in arecent interview. testing and toward the econo- “This #MeToo movement is my camejust days before a important, no matter how long scheduled meeting with Pres- ago it happened. We’re hoping ident Moon Jae-in of South BY GARTH STAPLEY something is done, or at least Korea and weeksbefore his [email protected] that this can bring healing to planned summit meeting with other girls.” President DonaldTrump. The founder of apopular Matt Whiteford is the lead Despite lingeringdoubts megachurch in Arizona admits pastor at CrossPoint Commu- about his nation’s ability to having sex with girls in his nity Church, which formerly strike the continental United charge when he was amarried was First Baptist. He said Friday States with anuclear weapon, youth pastor at aprominent that pastors who prey on con- Kim appeared to be making Modesto church four decades gregants should be dismissed clear he intendstoenterne- ago. from the ministry. gotiations with Washington “I sinned and harmed the Hughey, 64,issenior pastor the way the Soviets did dec- most important relationships in at Highlands Church, a ades ago, as an established my life,” Les Hughey said in a nondenominational congrega- nuclear power. statement issued after being tion in affluent Scottsdale, Ariz. The big questioniswhether contacted by The Modesto Bee. Highlands Church The church’s income last year he will relinquish his nuclear “Unfortunately, it’s impossible Les Hughey, senior pastor at Highlands Church, gives asermon at the was just under $6 million, ac- weapons. to undo what happened, so I Scottsdale, Ariz., church on Dec. 17. cording to the Virginia-based South Koreanpolicymakers instead accept and live with the Evangelical Council for argue that Kim is signaling a consequences.” willingness to dismantle his His victims came forward Tebbutt sexually abused agirl placed on leave while an inde- SEE HUGHEY, 10A nuclear arsenal for the right soon after The Bee’s February from age 14 to 17 in the 1980s, pendent firm led by Billy Gra- incentives, including econom- report on Brad Tebbutt, who said the victim and aformer ham’s grandson investigates VIDEO ic aid, apeace treaty and like Hughey was ayouth pastor First Baptist pastor who said Tebbutt’s past for his current at Modesto’s First Baptist Tebbutt confessed to him. Earli- employer, the International Foravideo report, go to this story at SEE NORTHKOREA,6A Church. er this month, Tebbutt was House of Prayer of Kansas City. modbee.com.

4former presidents honor matriarch of Bush family

She was 92,and took her last best role model in the world,” BY MANNY FERNANDEZ breaths holding the hand of her BarbaraBush’s son, Jeb Bush, New York Times husband of 73 years, former the former two-term governor President George H.W.Bush. of Florida,told mourners in his HOUSTON As her silver coffinlay be- eulogy.The family called her At the Episcopalchurch that neathaparchment in the center Bar, Mother, Ganny, the Silver has been her spiritual home for aisle of St. Martin’s Episcopal Fox and, notably, the Enforcer, more than 50 years,former first Church, some of the most pow- as she used her wit, humorand lady Barbara Pierce Bush was erfuland famous political fig- tough love to raise five children, celebrated at her funeralasone ures in the United States –in- 17 grandchildren and seven of the mostbelovedpolitical cluding four of the five living great-grandchildren. EVAN VUCCIAP matriarchs in U.S. history. former presidents –gatheredto “She called her style abenev- Ex-presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, accompanied Bush, the wife of the 41st honor awoman who carriedher olent dictatorship,”Jeb Bush by former first lady LauraBush, followpallbearers carrying the casket president and the motherof the own power and fame lightly. added, “buthonestly it wasn’t of former first lady BarbaraBush afterher funeral Saturdayin 43rd, died Tuesdayinthe bed- “We learned to strive to be Houston. Bush died Tuesdayatthe ageof92. room of her home in Houston. genuine and authentic by the SEE BUSH FUNERAL,10A

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FROM PAGE 1A renders them into easy prey.” Hughey’s actions HUGHEY amount to “sexual and spiritual abuse toward Financial Accountability. said Hughey and his wife trusting, faith-filled young Hughey issued a written would host youth staff congregants,” Brown said. confession at the direction meetings in their Modesto Having reviewed his state- of his board of elders after home to plan activities. As ment at The Bee’s re- they received an inquiry attendees left, his wife quest, she noted that from The Bee. It’s not would go to bed and Hughey “offers not one clear whether the board Hughey would encourage word of compassion or had been aware of Hugh- shoulder rubs with a re- care for his victims. His ey’s past; a former em- maining girl, all said. statement is focused on ployer said leadership at “It was very subtle. It himself and on how he that church, also in Scotts- would become full back and his family ‘put our dale, was “shocked and rubs, then closer to private lives back in order.’ Obvi- sad” at the news, as back- parts,” said Berryhill, 62. ously, he is still danger- ground checks had turned She would not let him ously oblivious.” up nothing before Hughey fondle her, she said. Hughey cited “God’s was hired there seven or “The sexual involve- help, my wife’s forgive- eight years after leaving ment was a means to an ness and discipline and Modesto. end,” said another wom- counseling from church Hughey’s statement to an, now 59. “It was some- JOE JOHNSTON [email protected] authority” in repentance. The Bee characterizes his thing I felt like I had to do Tracy Epler, who now lives in Los Osos, says for two years in the 1970s she was coerced His victims told The Bee infidelity as “consensual to have (alone) time with into having sex with Les Hughey, the pastor in charge of her youth group. he has never apologized to relations with fellow col- him. I remember feeling them. lege-aged staff.” used and guilty.” Brown also reviewed They clearly were vic- She asked to remain ...... chief executive of the SBC wording emailed to The tims, two of the girls, now anonymous because “I Statement of Les Hughey, senior pastor of Highlands executive committee. Bee by Doug Milligan, in their 50s, told The Bee. made peace with this long Community Church in Scottsdale, Ariz. Perhaps closer to Hugh- board of elders chairman “I was a good little girl ago,” but granted a ey in circumstances was at Hughey’s church in and he was a powerful lengthy interview to cor- Over 40 years ago, as a church intern in California, I Andy Savage, who Arizona. Milligan declined youth pastor,” said Tracy roborate the pattern cited sinned and harmed the most important relationships in recently resigned as a to answer The Bee’s ques- Epler, whose maiden by other victims. my life. I was unfaithful to my God, my wife, and the megachurch pastor in tions, and elders instruct- name was Looney. “I A fourth woman said ministry, and was rightly removed from that church. I Memphis 20 years after ed Hughey not to grant an knew I had to comply. she engaged in full-body engaged in consensual relations with fellow college-aged he was accused of sexual- interview, saying the And I knew it was wrong massages and was staff. ly assaulting a high school board “felt it best to not and I felt terrible but I “ashamed and embar- With God’s help, my wife’s forgiveness, and discipline girl in Texas. And closer disrupt the church minis- didn’t know what to do rassed” even though and counseling from church authority, I sincerely to home, for Bee readers, try any more than neces- about it.” Hughey didn’t have sex repented and we put our lives back in order. is Tebbutt. sary.” Epler, 59, now lives in with her. “The bulk of the Only recently has a rash “This pattern of protect- San Luis Obispo County. responsibility falls on Unfortunately, it’s impossible to undo what happened, so of old sex scandals at First ing the ministry is one Back then, she was a 17- Les,” said the woman, I instead accept and live with the consequences, even Baptist come to light. In we’ve seen over and over year-old virgin, “very asking not to be named. now so many years later. My family and the authority addition to Hughey in the in evangelical churches, timid, quiet, very submis- “He used his position and over me at my church are aware of this history. I thank 1970s and Tebbutt a dec- and the time for change is sive,” she said, when power to manipulate the God for his forgiveness and grace. ade later, two men were long overdue,” Brown Hughey, 23 and married vulnerable. I was a naive sent to prison for mo- said. “The people in High- two years, first had sexual kid and he was a narcissis- – Pastor Les Hughey lesting several boys they lands’ pews should be relations with her. She felt tic ass.” ...... had worked with at the grateful to The Modesto alone, frightened and Epler said sex with Modesto church in the Bee for bringing to light confused, and was terri- Hughey went on about 1980s. the truth about the current fied that anyone would monthly for two years, tively) bleeding in the The Sonora church First Baptist changed to pastor. However ugly that find out, especially her until she was 19 and middle of the street’,” she changed names over time CrossPoint Community truth may be, it’s far bet- parents, she said. “I was studying at Modesto Ju- said. “I remember being and no longer exists. Church in 2010. It now ter to know the truth and in an emotional prison nior College. She often shocked. ‘What?’ I had no Hughey later worked for has safeguards in place to deal with it than to allow that I didn’t know how to wished it would end, she idea. I really thought it a church in Little Rock, protect against sexual such a dangerous truth to get out of,” she said. said. was all my fault.” Ark., before being hired at abuse by employees and stay shrouded in secrecy.” “I always cried after “I didn’t want to come Stewart died a few Scottsdale Bible Church in volunteers, its lead pastor, Those in Highlands’ (sex),” Epler said. “I cried over, but he would always months ago. Bill Yaeger, the mid-1980s, said Kory Whiteford, said when The pews celebrated the afterwards in the bath- say, ‘I won’t hurt you, I First Baptist’s senior pas- Schuknecht, a member of Bee in February revealed church’s 20th anniversary room because I’m clean- promise; let’s just talk,’ tor when both Hughey that church’s executive Tebbutt’s abuse as well as four weeks ago with ing myself and I don’t and I fell for that every and Tebbutt worked leadership team. Hughey the two men’s separate Hughey leading praise know what it is. (Crying) time. It was about obedi- there, died in 2005. worked there about a convictions. songs. A video featured was my only release of ence and submissiveness. Stewart had surprised decade, he said. Whiteford on Friday many photos of Hughey as being scared and sad and You had to. It was being Berryhill, she said, with a “Nothing like (sexual noted that Hughey had a young man, and re- not knowing what was obedient to God.” midnight phone call in sin) ever came up in our been long gone from First counted the Arizona con- happening or why, and It came to an end when 1978 asking if she and reviews and reference Baptist by the time White- gregation’s growth from knowing it was terribly a First Baptist staff mem- Hughey had had sexual checks at the time,” said ford arrived eight years initial meetings in a wrong. There was a huge ber intercepted a note intercourse. Another man Schuknecht, who double- ago. school and warehouse to sense of shame and guilt.” Hughey had scribbled to in the youth group, who checked with the church’s “I believe that it is im- its current campus on 21 Four women described Epler, she and the staffer declined to be identified, then-senior pastor. “And moral, inexcusable and donated acres. The church Hughey as a handsome, offered in separate in- recently told The Bee that when Les was a pastor for very sad that anyone who has humanitarian mis- charismatic young man in terviews. By that time, Stewart also approached us, we never had any holds a title such as pastor sions in several countries his mid-20s who made Hughey had left the Ceres him to ask about Hugh- accusations of sexual would do the sort of and viewers tune in from girls go weak in the knees High post to become ey’s earlier alleged indis- impropriety at all.” things you have described 150 countries for Sunday and wowed huge worship “staff director of 200 cretions with a girl who The two Scottsdale (about Hughey) and that sermons, a narrator said. crowds as he sang and junior high-age young had married the man. churches are 10 miles they should be disqual- “I wrestled with God” played guitar. Ceres High people at Modesto’s First First Baptist leadership apart. Hughey built a ified from pastoral minis- before establishing High- School students felt par- Baptist Church,” accord- then sent Hughey packing. credible religious empire try,” Whiteford said, not- lands,” Hughey told the ticularly lucky that Hugh- ing to a September 1978 But congregants weren’t and enjoys a good reputa- ing “deep hurts and a long congregation. “I sensed ey was in charge of activ- notice in The Bee. told the real reason, the tion, Schuknecht said. road to healing” for vic- his leading and calling.” ities at their campus, said The staff member and women said. “We’re very saddened tims. “I and CrossPoint Highlands’ many minis- Epler and Jane Berryhill, Epler then independently “It was kind of like a to hear this,” he said. Community Church be- tries stage events such as who ran programs with confided in church lead- one-man Academy “And we’re sorry for any lieve and affirm that vic- last week’s Highlands Hughey as Ceres High ers, both said. The leader Awards show,” Epler victims. Our heart goes tims should be able to Men “Celebration of co-coordinator for First in charge of all youth recalled. “Les was on out to them. There has speak up, be heard and be Character“ and a two- Baptist. pastors, Bill Stewart, in- stage with all the senior been way too much of this helped.” week Bible Institute pre- Hughey was raised in structed Epler not to tell staff and he was being going on.” Christa Brown, sexually sentation titled “Respon- Modesto, according to her parents or anyone honored and glorified The #MeToo movement abused as a teen by a ding to Cultural news items in The Bee else, she said. (because) he was an has downed numerous Baptist pastor, is a recog- Sexuality,” concluding archive dating to 1960, “Then I was dismissed,” amazing man, a very tal- celebrities in sports, enter- nized expert on evangel- today. when he was 7. He ap- she said. “He said, ‘Thank ented musician, other tainment, politics and ical clergy abuse. Church Epler said, “I’m amazed peared in numerous play you very much for coming churches wanted him and business. Well-known members, she said, are Les is in ministry after all productions at Modesto and telling me,’ and that he’d taken on a youth evangelicals have not taught “from early child- these years ... still pro- High School and gradu- was the last and only time pastor job out of town. It escaped the wave, with hood” the biblical ad- claiming to be a man of ated in 1971, and married it was ever talked about. was a celebrated send-off. sex scandals tainting Bill monition in Hebrews 13:17 God. It’s very nauseat- at First Baptist in 1974. He didn’t send a female He left a hero.” Hybels, who stepped to “obey them that have ing.” Several articles pro- staff person to check on In a 1978 roundup of down from Chicago-area the rule over you, and claimed his music prowess me. So instead of protect- news from various church- megachurch Willow Creek submit yourselves, for Garth Stapley: at church events in those ing me, he protected Les. es, The Bee said Hughey earlier this month; Paul they watch for your 209-578-2390 years; he told an Arizona I’m still shocked by that had “become minister of Pressler, who helped lead souls.” magazine in 2016 that he today.” youth education at the a conservative takeover of “People indoctrinated had played in rock ‘n’ roll Years later, a counselor Peaceful Valley Church of the Southern Baptist Con- in this way face an impos- bands from age 12. helped Epler unpack the God in Sonora,” joining vention in the late 1970s sible bind when a pastor The four women, in- memories. “He said, ‘Tra- another man who also had and early 1980s; and turns predatory,” Brown terviewed separately, all cy, they left you (figura- interned at First Baptist. Frank Page, president and said. “Their own faith

FROM PAGE 1A but not the current occu- joined the current one, secrets,” Barbara Bush’s Dick Cheney and Dan pant of the White House, Melania Trump, at St. pastor, the Rev. Russell J. Quayle; former British President Donald Trump, Martin’s on Saturday. Levenson Jr., the rector of Prime Minister John Ma- BUSH FUNERAL whom Barbara Bush had Even at the funeral for a St. Martin’s, said in his jor; and former Canadian criticized in television woman who famously said homily. “What you saw Prime Minister Brian always benevolent.” class and the anonymous, interviews during the she left the politics to her was what you got.” Mulroney. Jon Meacham, a presi- came to St. Martin’s for a 2016 presidential cam- husband, the imagery was In the church were not The coffin was wheeled dential historian, said in public viewing Friday and paign. White House offi- impossible to ignore in only Bushes and Clintons, out of the church by eight his eulogy that he once the private funeral Sat- cials said Trump would this moment of bitter but Kennedys, Nixons, of Barbara Bush’s grand- asked Barbara Bush’s urday. not attend “to avoid dis- divisions in American Fords and Johnsons, in- sons, who served as pall- husband, the former presi- From noon to midnight ruptions due to added political life. In a single cluding Caroline Kenne- bearers. She was to be dent, if he knew early on Friday, more than 6,200 security, and out of re- front pew, Melania Trump dy, daughter of former buried more than 90 how resilient his wife people paid their respects spect for the Bush family sat shoulder to shoulder President John F. Kenne- miles northwest in Col- would be. He and Barbara at the viewing, filing past and friends attending the with the Obamas and the dy; Tricia Nixon Cox, lege Station, in a private Bush had met shortly after her closed coffin and service.” Clintons to pay tribute to daughter of former Presi- service on the grounds of the attack on Pearl Har- pausing just long enough Former President Jim- a Bush family eminence. dent Richard M. Nixon; the George H.W. Bush bor, in December 1941, at to bow their heads or my Carter and Eleanor Amid the splendor of Susan Ford Bales, daugh- Presidential Library and a dance in Greenwich, make the sign of the cross. Rosalynn Carter, the the scene – a white-robed ter of former President Museum. She was to be Connecticut. She was 16. On Saturday, about 1,500 former first lady, were choir filling the cavernous Gerald Ford; and Luci laid to rest beside her He was 17. people attended the funer- also not present; a spokes- Gothic-style cathedral Baines Johnson and Lynda daughter Robin, who died “She’s the rock of the al, under the watch of woman said that Jimmy with “My Country, ‘Tis of Bird Johnson Robb, of leukemia at the age of 3 family, the leader of the hundreds of local, state Carter would be on a Thee” – the recollections daughters of former Presi- in 1953. family,” George H.W. and federal law enforce- private trip overseas and of those close to her re- dent Lyndon B. Johnson. Bush told Meacham. “I ment officers. that his wife was recover- peatedly brought the set- They were joined by kind of float above it all.” Former presidents Ba- ing from recent surgery. ting back down to earth. hundreds of other digni- Nearly 8,000 people, rack Obama, George W. Three former first ladies “What an interesting taries, including Gov. from the rich and the Bush, Bill Clinton and – Michelle Obama, Laura thing to be a confidant of Greg Abbott of Texas; two famous to the working- George Bush attended, Bush and Hillary Clinton – a woman who has no former vice presidents, SPORTS LOCAL ModestoChristian Modestomom to playon killed 2young national stage sons then herself, next season 1B police say 3A

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Slowambulance responsetimes led to fines but little progress

patients. ments. NATHAN DENETTE The Canadian Press STANISLAUS COUNTY BY KEN CARLSON Lastweek,supervisors ap- Proposals from ambulance Toronto police talk to a LEADERSSEEK AN [email protected] proved a12-monthextension on companies will be soughtunder woman afteravan drove onto five-year agreements with med- anew plan for a“high-perform- asidewalk and crashed into a EMERGENCY In the pastfive years, ambu- ical services responders and a ance” emergency response crowd of pedestrians Monday, RESPONSESYSTEM lance companies in Stanislaus new plan for improving emer- system thatdelivers good pa- killing at least 10 people. County have been assessed gency medical services. The tient outcomes,reliable re- WITH GOOD PATIENT more than $4 millioninfines current agreements were set to sponse times, economic effi- OUTCOMES,RELIABLE for slow response times and expire April 30. ciency and customer satisfac- failingtomeet otherstandards Aftertalks with the largest tion. The new contracts will Vandriver RESPONSETIMES, for emergency services. ambulance provider, American start in May2019. ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY County leaders suspect that Medical Response,reachedan “It’s adisappointing situation, plows into ambulance providers are simply impasse,local officialsreluc- but Ibelievewewill comeup AND CUSTOMER payingfines as acost of busi- tantly agreed to an extension with something better for all our pedestrians, SATISFACTION. ness instead of providing better that includesnofines for failure servicetoimproveoutcomes for to meet response-timerequire- SEE AMBULANCE,6A killing 10 in Toronto

BY IAN AUSTEN AND LIAM STACK New York Times

Ten people were killed and 15 were injured Monday when aman drove awhite van onto the sidewalk along one of Toronto’s main thor- oughfares, spreading carnage and fear through the coun- try’s largest city, authorities and witnesses said. The van struck aman crossing Yonge Street before it jumped the curb near Mel Lastman Square and sped down the sidewalk at 40 mph, witnesses said, leaving atrail of destruction in its wake. The driver was taken into custody after adramatic confrontation with police that was captured on video. “Shoot me in the head,” he yelled before he was de- tained. It was one of the worst mass killings in the modern history of Canada. “There were alot of pedes- JEFF JARDINE Special To The Bee trians out, alot of witnesses The Highlands Church in Scottsdale, Ariz.Founder LexHugheywas removedfromaModestocongregation in the 1970s. out, enjoying the sunny after- noon,” said Peter Yuen, dep- uty chief of the Toronto po- although congregants were not lice service. “I ask the city of told the real reason for him Toronto to pray for our vic- Former Modestopastor going to Sonora’s now-defunct tims and to help the Toronto Peaceful Valley Church of God, police service bring this mat- severalvictims told The Bee. ter to asuccessful conclu- Hughey later workedatFellow- sion.” on leave as morevictims ship Bible Church in Little John Flengas, acting EMS Rock, Ark.,before being hired supervisor for Sunnybrook at ScottsdaleBible Church, presentsexual allegations where he was ayouth pastor for SEE TORONTO, 2A about adecade from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. ScottsdaleBible Church might with youngwomen whenhe describedalongterm sexual launch its own investigation, BY GARTH STAPLEY was amarried youthpastorhere relationship to The Bee. Kory Schuknecht, amember of [email protected] in the 1970s. “It was definitely sexual — its executive board, told TheBee First Baptist coveredup almost naked, touchingbody Monday. Lastweek, he had said Ayouthpastor fondled three Hughey’ssexualsins and trans- parts,” said Juliet Buckner Pe- the church had no knowledge of more young women in Arizona ferredhim to another congrega- kaar, among the three coming problems with Hughey when he after aprominent Modesto tion in Sonora,multiple victims forward Monday.“Fondling? was employedthere. church quietly let him go for alleged Monday. After his time Yeah. He went right up to “We’retryingtofigure out having sex with othergirls, all in Modesto, he laterwent to there.” how to bestproceed, to uncover three told The Modesto Bee on Arkansasand Arizona. “It’scalledforeplay,” said the truth and see if we can help Mondayinnew allegations. “I’m superangryabout that,” Carrie Fuller. anybody, if theywere affected Les Hughey was placed on said Jennifer Lefforge. “I feel Lefforge,Pekaarand Fuller here,” Schuknechtsaid. “We’re leave Sundaywhile the Arizona like they sent us asexualpreda- all were membersofHughey’s glad you brought this to light. megachurch he founded 20 tor. They knew.” youth group at Scottsdale Bible It’s agood thing. We want to years ago launched an inde- Sevenwomen now have Church, where he worked be- pursueitand get to the truth, AARON VINCENT ELKAIM The Canadian Press pendentinvestigation,church sharedstories of back rubs with forefounding Highlands. whatever it is.” Police stood near athat elders said Monday. The action Hughey that turned into inap- Hughey, 64,received agrand Hugheyadmittedto“sinning” mountedasidewalk and killed came in the wakeofaModesto propriate massagesand some- send-off from First Baptist,a nine pedestrians in Toronto on Bee report that Hughey had sex times turned sexual. Tracy Epler prominent Modesto church, SEE PASTOR,6A Monday.

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FROM PAGE 1A large blister that had formed beneath the gauze Man who wrested on his right hand. PASTOR Before Dr. Callie M. Thompson cleaned the in “consensual relations” at tist publicly celebrated wound, Shaw’s best Modesto’s First Baptist, in Hughey’s send-off to rifle from gunman friend, Brennan McMurry, The Bee’s weekend story. Sonora. A few who knew who moved people to The church changed to about the alleged cover-up safety during the rampage, CrossPoint Community arose in silent protest and offered a quick admoni- Church in 2010, and its left the meeting, Peterson says he’s not a hero tion. current leader last week and the unnamed victim “You’re gonna have to said pastors who prey on said. man up right now,” congregants ought to be “This is b--- s---,’ I said, back. But for Shaw, 29, the McMurry told his friend BY ALAN BLINDER removed from the ministry. loud enough that an as- AND MATTHEW HAAG most striking moment was since middle school. “It’s “While those who have sistant pastor said, ‘You New York Times his exchange with the going to sting. I’m just come forward may not may have burned some young’s woman father. letting you know.” have been minors, a min- bridges.’ I said, ‘I don’t NASHVILLE, TENN. “I’m a father, and we Shaw grimaced and ister holds a position of plan on going back, pal,’ The young woman, had a father moment then said, “I’ve done power over those who and that’s the last time I bandaged and shrouded in when we saw each other,” enough manning up.” come to him for guidance went to church there,” bedsheets, began to cry Shaw said afterward in the “You ain’t done yet,” such that no sexual rela- Peterson said. “They just when James Shaw Jr. lobby, where one woman McMurry replied. tionship with those in this swept it under the rug. It walked into Trauma Room approached him for a Shaw and McMurry had care can be truly consid- was a bad deal.” No. 26 on Monday morn- selfie. “If you can ima- just sat down in the res- ered consensual,” said Fuller said she left ing. Then, as the woman’s gine, actually, your child taurant early Sunday when Tim Lennon of Tucson, Scottsdale Bible Church father drew near, one of being there and meeting a loud crashing sound Ariz. He is board presi- after Hughey rubbed her Vanderbilt University the person who saved rang out. At first, Shaw dent of SNAP, or bare legs and touched her Medical Center’s surgeons their child, it was very said Monday, he thought a Survivors Network of crotch three decades ago spoke up: “Have you met touching.” dishwasher had knocked those Abused by Priests, a while on a mission trip to James? James saved a lot He was encouraged by over some plates. support group for victims Mexico. of lives.” SHEILA BURKE AP the progress of the pa- It quickly became clear of sexual abuse in in- Pekaar, who now lives The men embraced, James Shaw speaks after a tients. what was happening. Bul- stitutional settings. in San Diego, said her crying, the woman’s father news conference Sunday in “I’m glad that they’re lets pierced the restau- SNAP called for Hugh- father sexually abused her clapping James Shaw Jr. Nashville, Tenn. still alive, but what I really rant’s windows. A man ey’s resignation. as a child. She sought on the back. want to see is when collapsed onto the floor. In 1998, Hughey found- comfort in church and “Thank you,” the older they’re back on their feet Waiters ran. ed Highlands Church 10 ended up playing key- man whispered to Shaw, room before he talked and their normal lives and Shaw and McMurry miles from his former board in Hughey’s Chris- who a day earlier wrested about donating money everything,” he said. raced to the hallway out- employer in Scottsdale. tian rock group, “Les an assault rifle from a man raised through a Go- On Monday, Shaw, who side the restrooms, taking Highlands’ income last Hughey and The Band,” who opened fire at a Waf- FundMe page to the in- suffered a graze wound cover behind a swinging year was just under $6 which periodically toured fle House restaurant just jured and the families of from a gunshot and a door. As the gunman en- million. throughout the country, southeast of downtown the dead. second-degree burn on his tered the Waffle House to Hughey sexually co- she said. Nashville. The rampage “Hey girl,” he asked in hand when he grabbed the continue shooting, Shaw erced Epler from age 17 to “I was in dark depres- left four people dead. the second. “How you barrel of the rifle, took his recounted in an interview 19 in Modesto, she has sion, with anxiety attacks, The police, as well as doing?” own incremental steps with ABC’s “Good Morn- said, before she and an- so confused,” she said. “I other customers in the Through their quiet toward recovery. During ing America,” he looked other victim, who asked to went to him for help. But I Waffle House, quickly tears, it seemed, the pa- his visit to Vanderbilt, a for a moment to fight remain anonymous, sep- was going to a predator. praised Shaw as a hero for tients could only whisper burn specialist treated the back. arately confided in First That’s how sick this was.” preventing even more Baptist leaders and were Hughey fondled her bloodshed. OBITUARIES told to tell no one, both from ages 16 to 19, she “I’m not a hero. I’m just told The Bee. said, mostly on tours a regular person,” Shaw Death Notices Modesto’s Brad Pe- when other band mem- said a few hours after the terson also came forward bers weren’t around. shooting, a sentiment he Monday, saying he and a Hughey tried to grope repeated in talk show buddy also informed Lefforge, now 47, when she appearances Monday church leaders when they was 17, also on a mission morning. learned of Hughey’s ex- trip to Mexico, she said. “I didn’t really fight that ploits from close female She later became an or- man to save everyone else. friends. Peterson and the dained minister in Texas That may not be a popular friend were drawn into a and now lives in Georgia. thing,” said Shaw, a Nash- meeting where leaders “I used this story when I ville native who went to confronted Hughey, would counsel other wo- college in Tennessee and Peterson said. men, about trusting their now works as a wireless “They said, ‘These are gut and knowing when technician. “I took the gun serious allegations,’ and something is inappropri- so I could get myself out” made Les answer some ate,” Lefforge said. of the situation. questions. ‘There was only “Anyone close to me has He said he was glad one girl,’ he said. They heard this story. others were saved. said, ‘Did you ask her to “I’m sick to my stom- Later Monday, he have sex?’ He hesitated, ach, wondering if the slipped into Vanderbilt’s put his head down and pattern continued,” Lef- trauma unit, visiting two said, ‘Yes,’” Peterson said. forge said. “Now, we’re women who survived the “So we figured he was not going to let it be. He’s shooting. He spoke to gone. But later they told not going to control the them softly and stayed us to drop it. We were told narrative any longer.” perhaps two or three min- that was the end of it and utes in each room, deflect- to stand down,” Peterson Garth Stapley: ing any talk of his bravery. said. 209-578-2390 “How you doing, mom Shortly after, First Bap- and dad?” he asked in one

FROM PAGE 1A was expanded. Sorrick said the ACA has led to a payer mix that AMBULANCE is not sustainable for the company. Significantly citizens,” Supervisor Vito for ambulance services, more patients are in high Chiesa said. and the need for more deductible insurance A spokesman for AMR training. plans and many customers said Monday the penalties During the flu season have Medi-Cal coverage under the current agree- this past winter, paramed- that pays far below the ment aren’t fair and that ics were delayed too long cost of an ambulance ride. the contract is financially at hospitals in trying to “About 85 percent of unviable for the company. deliver patients to packed patients pay below our In negotiations over the emergency departments. costs,” Sorrick said. extension, AMR wanted to A report last week also The spokesman also change how penalties are noted that there were questioned the fairness of assessed, and the county 5,800 more emergency penalizing the ambulance opted for eliminating the calls in 2016 than in 2014, service when employees fine structure, a spokes- with Code 3 responses are delayed at crowded man said. (flashing lights and sirens) hospitals. “What we had previous- representing 70 percent of The new agreements ly discussed with them the total calls in Stanislaus should put less emphasis was an actual renewal,” County. on fast response times AMR spokesman Jason Five years ago, the because it’s necessary in Sorrick said. “It was not agreements with ambu- only a small number of until the last year of the lance providers included calls, Sorrick said. “With a five-year contract that tougher financial penalties broken leg, there is no they said they were going for not meeting response need to be there in 7 min- out for an RFP.” time standards. Ambu- utes and 30 seconds,” he To regulate EMS serv- lances are expected to said. “AMR has no in- ices, Mountain Valley arrive in less than 7.5 terest in bidding on a Emergency Medical Serv- minutes in urban areas. (new agreement) if the ices Agency has agree- 11.5 minutes in suburban terms are not changed.” ments with ambulance areas and 19.5 minutes in The new plan for emer- providers including AMR, rural areas. gency medical services Oak Valley Hospital Dis- By far, AMR has been will strive for efficiency, trict, Patterson District hit with the most fines, financial sustainability for Ambulance and ProTran- but an actual breakdown ambulance providers, sport-1. Also playing a role was not available. A re- enhanced communica- in the EMS system are fire gional director for AMR tions and better coor- departments, police and told supervisors last week dination of responders. dispatch communication that, under the current Jim DeMartini, Board of centers. agreement, penalties are Supervisors chairman, Representatives from assessed if the company is said he wants to hear from about 35 agencies took 90 percent complaint with staff in five months or so part in interviews last year the standards. if response times are “way as a first step toward When the agreements out of line” during the crafting a new plan for were signed in 2013, offi- extension period. emergency responders. cials expected that the Up to $200,000 in pen- Among the challenges Affordable Care Act alty funds held by Moun- are better use of dispatch would increase revenues tain Valley will be used to resources, a paramedic for ambulance providers hire a consultant to assist shortage that makes it as thousands of residents with a request for proposals hard to staff ambulance were enrolled in insurance designed to improve ambu- crews, sustainable funding and Medi-Cal eligibility lance service. THURSDAY APRIL 26 2018 3A MODBEE.COM Local

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have been removed from asection listing staff. FormerModesto pastor purged Also gone are apho- tograph of Hughey and his wife, and apage of history from the “Our Story“ fromwebsiteof churchhe started section of Highlands’ website written from Hughey’s perspective and dale, Ariz., unawares as he fondled tional information avail- hands, and to receive signed by him. “We envi- BY GARTH STAPLEY 20 years them during massages able at that time, as well counseling. sioned achurch that [email protected] ago. His when he was ayouth pas- as to spend time in prayer First Baptist, apromi- would truly be alight- board of tor at Scottsdale Bible together as achurch fam- nent Modesto church, house to the community,” An Arizona church has elders Church, one of his em- ily,” anotice reads. became CrossPoint Com- the section used to read. erased from its website its placed him ployers after leaving Mo- The church has hired an munity Church in 2010. “As we stay true to our founding pastor, caught in on leave desto and before founding independent firm “to fully CrossPoint has issued no purpose and priorities, asex scandal that started Les when The Highlands. Some victims investigate all allega- such invitation; lead pas- firmly rooted in God’s four decades ago in Mo- Hughey Bee’s story said they are angry that tions,” and invited people tor Matt Whiteford said Word, we’re excited to see desto. was pub- the Modesto church cov- to provide additional in- he is talking with acom- how God will continue to In aModesto Bee lished, and he made a ered up Hughey’s mis- formation. Scottsdale pany that may make re- grow us.” report, Les Hughey public confession Sunday conduct, enabling him to Bible Church and Fellow- commendations. Highlands’ income was admitted having sex with to his congregation, say- prey on them. ship Bible Church in Little Highlands’ website nearly $6 million last year. young women when he ing he had “consensual Highlands’ board of Rock, Ark. –among the continues to feature Garth Stapley: 209-578- was amarried youth pas- relations.” His alleged elders scheduled a places Hughey worked statements issued by its 2390 tor at Modesto’s First victims say they were “church family meeting” between Modesto and elder board with updated Baptist Church in the coerced. for Wednesday evening. Highlands –posted similar information on the Hugh- VIDEO 1970s. Other women came “You are invited to attend letters to congregants, ey scandal. But his pho- Hughey founded High- forward Monday, saying as the Highlands lead- inviting people to share tograph, position as senior Forvideo,see this story at lands Church in Scotts- Hughey caught them ership shares any addi- knowledge of abuse at his pastor and email address www.modbee.com.

down through generations to Guzman, who lived most of her life in Austin, Texas. Over the decades Johnson became the go-to maker of salsa for family gatherings, parties and other events. Then, about three years ago, Farhoud had agath- ering for his 21st birthday where they served the salsa. The next day a friend called him asking for more of the salsa, and saying he would gladly pay for it. That’s when a light bulb went off for him. He began experiment- ing with making batches of the salsa in the family’s backyard. His previous work experience was as an automotive technician, so the world of commercial food manufacturing was completely new and had a steep learning curve. When they finally had it down and began produc- ing jars to sell about two years ago, they took it to the one place they knew would be atrue crucible for any salsa —the flea market on Crows Landing ANDY ALFARO [email protected] Road in south Modesto. Mother-son team of Elaine Johnson and Julian Farhoud from Hughson have startedbottling afamily salsa recipe under the name Tia Fina's.They “Our biggest critics were photographed at adistribution warehouse in Turlock on Tuesday. were at the flea market because it’s like amini- Mexico there,” Johnson picture of their tia (Span- said. “But when they tried Aunt’s salsaahit at ish for “aunt”) who went it they were shocked with by the nickname “Fina.” how authentic it was.” Above her portrait are the They sold at the flea parties, so mom and words, “From our Family market almost exclusively Table to yours.” for their first eight sonstartedbusiness The salsa itself is a months, then expanded to blended mix of diced local farmers markets. tomatoes, garlic, salt, Along the way Farhoud ed selling Tia Fina’s Salsa, roasted green and jalape- was mentored by Modesto BY MARIJKE ROWLAND based on her great aunt no peppers and, depend- entrepreneur Jamie Nor- [email protected] Delfina Guzman’s long- ing on spice level, roasted wood, president of held recipe, in early 2016 ANDY ALFARO [email protected] serrano peppers. It comes Amalia’s Cocina sauce lmost everyone at local flea and farmers The mother-son team currently produces about six in mild, spicy and hot company. She helped has agrandma or markets. They have since pallets,orclose to 6,800jars,ineach run and distribute flavors and contains no them make the leap from great aunt with a ramped up production and out of the Turlock warehouse. Abottle retails for$5to$6. added sugar or vinegar manufacturing in acom- secret family last year began manu- and is GMO and gluten- mercial kitchen in Turlock Arecipe they swear they facturing out of Auburn. free. to aco-packer facility in could bottle and sell. The salsa is now avail- Mart to be in stores from time,” said Johnson, who Johnson has long been Auburn. They’ve also But the mother-son able at area Safeway and Modesto to Merced. has partnered with her the keeper of her great- been working with Jeff team of Elaine Johnson O’Brien’s grocery stores “When people try it son, who is CEO of the aunt’s recipe, since learn- Pappas, the CEO of CJ and Julian Farhoud from as well as other regional they say it brings them company. ing it from her over 35 Produx, as abroker to Hughson actually made it markets. And they are back to aflavor they Turn over ajar of the years ago. The original happen. The family start- finishing adeal with Save haven’t had in along salsa and you’ll see a recipe had been passed SEE SALSA,4A

creating maps and grids to DestructiveSouth Americanrodent focus their search, said Department of Fish and is foundinSanJoaquin County Wildlife spokesman Peter Tira. mento-San Joaquin Delta. to the state’s water-supply Late last month, Tira’s BY RYAN SABALOW State and federal wild- and flood-control infra- agency was awarded a [email protected] life and water officials structure. $1.13million grant from fear that nutria will get a Before Tuesday’s an- the Proposition 1water The destructive invasive foothold in the Delta’s nouncement, nutria were bond in the hopes of wip- swamp rodents known as ecologically fragile net- found in Fresno, Merced, ing nutria off California’s nutria are officially on the work of sloughs and riv- Stanislaus and Tuolumne map before they become doorstep of one of the ers. The Delta is the heart counties. They were first impossible to eradicate. state’s most critically of California’s flood-con- discovered last year in a Nutria have populated important waterways. trol and water distribution private duck-hunting other states after escaping State wildlife officials system, supplying water to marsh near Gustine in from fur farms decades announced Tuesday that a 25 million Californians Merced County. It is not ago. Louisiana, for exam- RANDALLBENTON [email protected] nutria was killed on agri- and millions of acres of known how the animals ple, has spent millions of California DepartmentofFish and Wildlifesenior wildlife cultural land west of Central Valley farmland. got here. dollars on bounty and biologist Greg Gerstenbergholds anutria near Gustine. Stockton in San Joaquin Full-grown nutria are Eradication efforts are eradication programs with County. It’s the farthest about the size of abeagle. just getting underway. A limited success. north the species has been They can have litters of a team of state biologists is Under state law, only difficult for untrained program, by email to confirmed of the 32 nutria dozen or more and be- being trained to trap landowners or someone hunters to distinguish [email protected] killed so far in California come pregnant within 48 them, and the Department working for them are nutria from native bea- or by phone at since their discovery in hours after giving birth. of Fish and Wildlife is legally allowed to kill vers, otters and muskrats. 866-440-9530. March 2017.The They aggressively feed on working with landowners nutria, Tira said. There’s Biologists ask those who confirmed kill puts the native wetland vegetation, to get access to private no hunting program in spot signs of nutria to Ryan Sabalow: South American rodents and their burrowing into property for trapping. place for now. Tira said report it online to the 916-321-1264, on the edge of the Sacra- levees poses agrave risk Meanwhile, the state is the concern is that it’s CDFW’s invasive species @ryansabalow FRIDAY APRIL 27 2018 3A MODBEE.COM Local

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agree. That assumes, Denham from coalescing however, two election support from fellow Re- Will Congress raisethefederal outcomes this November publicans in the race for that are very much in the party’s top spot on the doubt: that Republicans committee, which the gastax?Turlock Republican keep their majority in the House GOP caucus will House of Representatives vote on after the Novem- and that Denham, him- ber election. His primary self, keeps his 10th Dis- rival is Missouri Rep. Sam could have amajor say trict seat. Graves. Denham narrowly won Denham is seen as hav- reelection in 2016,even ing the clear edge thanks ways. politically charged deci- keep his job. as Democratic nominee not only to his policy work BY EMILY CADEI He or she will oversee sion of whether to raise Republican Rep. Jeff Hillary Clinton won his on the committee but his [email protected] the federal programs that the federal gas tax —and Denham of Turlock has Modesto-area district in personal connections to subsidize everything from the price Californians pay only been in Congress the presidential race. A other members. WASHINGTON efforts to help reduce the the pump —tokeep the since 2011,but acombina- handful of well-funded Last fall, Denham he next chairman choking congestion nation’s highway mainte- tion of GOP retirements, Democrats are now vying joined the current com- of the House between the Central nance fund from sinking term limits and Denham’s for the chance to take on mittee chairman, Penn- Transportation Valley and Bay Area to the into the red. own savvy alliance build- Denham this November. sylvania Republican Bill and Infrastruc- state’s ambitious and And for the first time in ing have made him the And political handicappers Shuster, and Republican Tture Committee will shape controversial high-speed more than 20 years,a favorite to assume the top rank him among the most Rep. Mark Sanford of how the federal govern- rail project. Californian is poised to slot on the committee in vulnerable Republicans in South Carolina to tour the ment regulates Califor- Most immediately, the take over this powerful 2019, industry lobbyists 2018. nia’s dams and water- next chair will face the post. That is, if he can just and congressional aides That hasn’t stopped SEE DENHAM,7A

MARIJKE [email protected] Packaged meals at Go Fresh include Asian chicken stir fry, beef-wrapped asparagus,Thai peanut salad and more. Meals rangeinprice from $4 forsalads to $7.75for bowls and $9-$11 forplates.

its name to Go Fresh at and even into the East Bay the start of 2017 helped to San Ramon and Dan- themfocus their mission. ville. “Wehad to make food But you’ll have to come more fun andaccessible into the Turlock storefor to people. We realized it that selfie wall, agreen, MARIJKE [email protected] wasn’t about goingAtoZ, faux-foliagebackdrop Go Fresh opened anew Turlock location on Fulkerth Road at the beginning of April. The shop sells fresh-made, but helping them go from with the large “Go Fresh” packaged healthymeals fortakeout or delivery. Co-workers Michelle Reed (left) and Rosa Lopezcheck out some of AtoB.Wewant to change logo on it. the options on Tuesday. one bad mealaweek, and “We believeinsocial thentake it to being a media and are big on lifestyle,” he said.“We spreading the word about BUSINESSBEAT ple can order by walking didn’t want this to feel Go Fresh,” Anderson said. in or online, and then can like adiet or prepping for “We love when customers takeout or havetheir something.This is alife- are abletotake something mealsdelivered. style.” awesome in frontofthe Aselfie wall and healthy Anderson has been The meals includeve- wall and post it.” working on the Turlock gan,low carb,keto and The Turlocklocation site for about nine paleo options. Open up celebrates its grand open- meals await at the new months. It opened at the one of the fridges and ing Sunday, April 29,with beginning of April on you’ll see Asian chicken free festivities from 10 Fulkerth Road in the same stir fry, beef-wrapped a.m. to 2p.m. Anderson Go Fresh in Turlock shopping center as Wal- asparagus,Thai peanut said they will be sampling mart.Just like the Modes- saladand more. Meals their whole menu, and to location, the new spot range in pricefrom $4 for have raffles,giveaways So the folks at the new fresh, locally sourced and has large refrigerators salads to $7.75for bowls and more. Go Freshin Turlock, healthful food daily and packed with their offer- and $9-$11 for plates. Go Fresh Turlock, at which sells healthypre- packageitfor easy pickup ings. It also sells healthy The menu is seasonal, 2103 Fulkerth Road, is made meals, are here to and delivery. snacks and drinks. and Andersonsaid all of open from 7a.m. to 7p.m. helpwiththat. They’ve OwnersBilly Anderson The Turlock site has the produce and meat SundaytoThursdayand installed whatappears to and his fiancée, Naomi more floorspacethan the comefrom local farmers 10 a.m.to 5p.m. Friday be the areas’sfirst food Tostado, started Go Fresh Modesto location, so the or farmers markets. In and Saturday. For more selfie wall in its new shop, as away to bringbetter store has installed some May, the Turlock site will information, call BY MARIJKE ROWLAND its secondoverall location. and convenient nutrition tablesfor people to sit and starthostingfree monthly 209-620-8767 or visit [email protected] Go Fresh, which started to the Central Valley.All eat. And, unlikethe Mo- nutritional workshops in www.gofreshmeals.com. threeyears ago in Modes- of the mealsare cooked desto location, the new the store. The thing about eating to as PrepFor Success(or and prepared at the Mo- store has ajuice bar where For thoseunable to Marijke Rowland: (209) healthy is if you’re gonna PFS Meals), has been desto location in the Lin- they will blend fresh walkin, the company’s 578-2284, do it, you mightaswell growingever since. The coln SchoolShopping drinksdaily. delivery area stretches [email protected], tell other people about it. concept is simple:cook Center on HStreet. Peo- Anderson said changing from ModestotoTurlock @marijkerowland

VIDEO Keenan, aformer long- Sexscandal forces time member who attend- Modesto’sCrystal Forvideo,see this story at ed the meeting. Reactions resignation of former www.modbee.com. to newsofHughey’sresig- Creamerycutsits nation ranged from satis- Modestoyouth pastor women tellingThe Bee faction and relieftosad- workforceby 5percent about back rubs and mas- ness, Keenan said. sages that sometimes “Obviously, he was the Asource who provided church turned into groping and founderofthe church; he BY DEKE FARROW information on condition BY GARTH STAPLEY leadership, intercourse, eldersat was abig part of every- [email protected] of anonymity said about [email protected] they told Highlandsscheduled one’s lives,”said Keenan, 40 workers were laid off. The Modes- Wednesday’s meeting and whose teenage daughter Modesto’s Crystal “They closed Bside (but- The founding senior to Bee in announced Hughey’s continues attending High- Creamery has cut its ter) and cut maintenance pastor of an Arizona Saturday’s resignation. The church’s lands’ high school pro- workforce by about 5 manning by 20 percent,” megachurch, caught up in report. income was nearly $6 gram. “But whenyou percent, the dairy compa- the person said in an asex scandal with roots in Les Hughey Top pas- million last year. cross that line —that’s a ny confirmed Wednesday. email. Modesto, has resigned, tors in Mo- “Nownomore women line you just can’t cross,” Aspokesman released Crystal spokesman John congregants were told desto sent will be hurt by Les Hugh- he said. this statement in the after- Segale said the closest Wednesday evening at a Hughey packing but cov- ey in the church,” said Highlands’elders have noon and said company pre-layoff number he had specialmeetingofHigh- ered it up, several victims Tracy Epler, first to tell not yet madeadecision officials are not taking for the Kansas Avenue lands Church in Scotts- said, enabling him to her storyofbeingsexually about severance for Hugh- media questions at this plant was 900to950 dale. reoffend at another coerced in Modesto by ey, congregants said.He time: “We are in the pro- employees. By that count, Les Hughey, 64,was church in Arizona,three Hugheyfrom age 17 to 19. no longer is on the cess of re-adjusting our about 45 people were laid not at the meeting, at- more women said She said she was amazed church’s payroll, leaders staffing levels to best off. tendeessaid. Monday. thatHughey was dis- announced. meet both the current Formerly Foster Farms MinistrySafe,afirm Modesto’s First Baptist, missed amere four days Stepping in as interim volume and customer Dairy, the company was hired by Highlands, con- whichchanged in 2010 to later. senior pastor is Bob Wade, demand. Unfortunately, founded in 1941 by Max tinues to investigate CrossPoint Community “Those that have come who had been servingas this includes eliminating and Verda Foster two Hughey, who was raised Church, will employan forward, and thosewho Highlands’“pastor of the some jobs. The cuts years after they started in Modesto and worked at independentcompany havenot, willnow be able 40sand 50s,” and who amount to about 5percent the poultry operation that First BaptistChurchasa with expertise in clergy to heal in amore complete reportedly worked along- of our workforce and are bears the Foster name. marriedyouth pastorhere abusetolaunch an in- way,” said Epler, who now side Hugheyatother necessary to ensure we The transition of Foster until 1978. That’s when vestigation as well,lead livesinLos Osos. churches before High- are best positioned to dairy products to the young women who had pastorMatt Whiteford Hundreds crowdedinto lands was created in 1998. compete in the market- Crystal Creamery brand had sexual encounters said Wednesday. Highlands’ worship center place now and in the fu- with him confided in With as many as seven on Wednesday, said Tim SEE PASTOR,4A ture.” SEE DAIRYLAYOFFS,7A 4A FRIDAY APRIL 27 2018 Nation MODBEE.COM

AROUND THE REGION MODESTO Firefighters douse What: Carnival Food Fundraiser When: Fridays,5to 8p.m. Where: Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road blaze in subfloor Info: Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County holds Fourth Fridayofthe month carnival food fundraisers.Visitors can order from amenu of various carnival food staples.Freetoenter,purchase of Turlock on food items.For moreinformation call 209-343-6292. What: Parent Resource Centeropen house home’s kitchen When: Friday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Where: Downtown office, 811 Fifth St., and AirportNeighborhood office, 530 S. SantaCruz Ave. Info: Part of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Attendees can watch the kitchen area. adove release and learn about the importance of positiveparent- BY DEKE FARROW The Fire Department child interactions. [email protected] responded about 12:45 Turlock FireDepartment What: Recovery International Meeting a.m. to the call from the Turlock firefighters responded shortly aftermidnight When: Fridays,7p.m. Responding to acall of 2000 block of Drew Ave- Wednesdaytothe 2000 block of Drew Avenue, wherea Where: Geneva Presbyterian Church, 1229 E. FairmontAve. aresidential structure fire, nue. Crews arrived to find firewas located in the subfloor of ahome’s kitchen. Info: Self-help training is offered in psychiatric aftercare. Weekly city of Turlock firefighters heavy smoke inside the local groups; also web-and telephone-based groups.For more used thermal imaging single-story home, with all information contact Dave at 209-247-2620orvisit www.recoveryinternational.org. cameras early Wednesday occupants safely evacuat- to assist the residents. city coverage during the to locate afire growing in ed. The response from the fire and responded to What: 6Cups to College Mentoring Program the subfloor of ahome’s The cause of the fire Turlock City Fire Depart- several other incidents in When: Tuesday, May 22, 11:30 to 12:30p.m. kitchen. was faulty electrical wir- ment was abattalion the city. Where: Stanislaus County Office of Education, 1100 HSt. Using chain saws and ing beneath the home, chief, three engine com- Info: SCOE seeks mentors forthis program that pairs community other tools, they opened said department spokes- panies and Squad 32,for a members with high school students.Matchedbygender,and when possible, by college major/career interest.Orientations in the Pat- the floor and extinguished man Capt. Kevin Tidwell. total of 13 personnel. Tur- terson Room. Formoreinformation call 209-238-1717orvisit the blaze, containing it to The Red Cross was called lock Rural Fire provided www.stancoe.org/6Cups.

TRACY What: District 6DairyPrincessCrown Life-threatening stabbing THE ASSAILANT REPORTEDLYRAN When: Deadline: Friday, May 11 Where: Online mostserious incidentin AWAY, SGT. RUSSELL HOLEMAN SAID. Info: The local dairyindustryisaccepting applications from young women wishing to compete. The winner will representthe busyday forTurlockpolice THE VICTIM WAS"NOTBEING VERY dairyindustry. Qualifications can be found on the application, at COOPERATIVE"WITH OFFICERSATTHE californiadairypressroom.com/ca-dairy-princesses.For more neighbor’s house, where information call Linda Teixeira209-634-4500 or 209-402-8305or BY DEKE FARROW SCENE,HESAID, AND NO SUSPECT CMAB office at [email protected] or 209-484-0690. the resident called 911. [email protected] The assailant reportedly DESCRIPTION WASAVAILABLE ran away, Holeman said. TURLOCK ATurlock man, 44,was The victim was “not being THURSDAY MORNING. What: Landscape Lecture rushed to ahospital after very cooperative” with When: Sunday, 2p.m. suffering life-threatening officers at the scene, he Where: Carnegie Arts Center, 250N.Broadway stab wounds Wednesday said, and no suspect de- someone, aman threat- reallocate resources, he Info: Landscape designer Lee Harris will sharehis perspectives on California's unique contribution to residential landscape design. night, Turlock police said. scription was available ening his family with abat said, and call on Cali- Free. Formoreinformation call 209-632-5761orvisit The report was made Thursday morning. and asecond stabbing fornia State University, carnegieartsturlock.org. shortly after 10 p.m. that a The stabbing was the report. In that last case, Stanislaus, police for as- man had been stabbed biggest incident in what the victim actually was sistance. Send Region items to Region, The ModestoBee, P.O. Box5256, multiple times in the 500 Holeman called a“crazy not cut because he was Anyone with informa- Modesto95352; call 209-578-2330; fax209-578-2207; or email [email protected]. block of West Avenue day” for Turlock officers. wearing several layers of tion on the attack is urged South, said Police Depart- Four serious calls came in clothing, Holeman said. to call the Turlock Police ment spokesman Sgt. within 45 minutes, he Officers were so busy Department at 209-668- 75 YEARS AGO: The world’sbest pole vaulter wastocompeteatthe Russell Holeman. The said, including aperson that the swing and grave- 5550. ModestoRelays,Cornelius Warmerdam. After the competition,War- victim went for help to a pointing afirearm at yard shift sergeants had to merdam, an ensign, wastoreporttothe DelMonte PreFlightSchool.

FROM PAGE 3A Earlier this week, three website, he said, including many meetings was sexual environment that she of Hughey’s churches counseling paid for by the purity,” said Katie Pe- found “damaging to so since he left Modesto — church. terson, not an abuse vic- many students.” PASTOR Fellowship Bible Church “Our desire is to assist tim and now an attorney Garth Stapley: 209-578- in Little Rock, Ark., and help these victims in Seattle. She described a 2390 Hughey led a20-year Sunday in which Hughey Scottsdale Bible Church and others who have also “cult-like” youth group celebration only four cited “consensual rela- (where Hughey, in his 30s experienced abuse and weeks ago. tions.” and 40s, groped at least need healing,” he said. “Pastor Hughey’s resig- Earlier Wednesday, three young women, they Hughey also worked in nation does not end the Highlands had erased told The Bee), and Sonora, Madera and Mon- responsibility of High- Hughey from its website Highlands —posted let- terey before heading to lands Church,” Wade said except for notices regard- ters inviting congregants Arkansas and Arizona. in anew statement on the ing the scandal. Removed to share information of All seven women in- church’s website. “We are were photographs of him abuse at his hands, and to terviewed by The Bee committed to providing and his wife, and apage of receive counseling. Scotts- were young women pas- counseling and spiritual history from the “Our dale Bible Church also tored by Hughey, or on his care. Further, we recog- Story” section of High- began an investigation. youth staff, in Modesto nize the critical impor- lands’ website written At CrossPoint, White- and Scottsdale, and all tance of treating any alle- from Hughey’s perspec- ford said late Wednesday described being taken by a gation of abuse or mis- tive and signed by him. that an outside firm will popular, charismatic min- conduct seriously and its “We envisioned achurch conduct an investigation. ister with atalent for sing- victims with compassion.” that would truly be alight- “We are also reaching ing and playing guitar. All Elders said Hughey and house to the community,” out to those in our church said encounters started his wife, who married at the section used to read. currently and those who with back rubs after his First Baptist in Modesto “As we stay true to our have been affected by the wife had gone to bed in 44 years ago, left town purpose and priorities, acts in the past who are no another room or was not after news of his infidel- firmly rooted in God’s longer in our church,” around. ities broke in The Bee, Word, we’re excited to see Whiteford said in an Some said chastity was following apublic confes- how God will continue to email. CrossPoint will among Hughey’s favorite sion to his congregation grow us.” offer information on its topics. “Although it was 35 years ago, Istill remember clearly that the focus of SETTING IT STRAIGHT 1-877-ALMOND-8 We want to make sure the said,“They think they can story on Page 3A Monday. information in this paper do whatever they wanton is accurate. Please call public lands as long as Local News...... 578-2330 mistakes to our attention, theyhaveenough cowboy City Desk...... 578-2327 so we maycorrect them. hatsand guns.” It was Work &Money...578-2343 Ryan Beamofthe Center incorrectly attributed in a Features ...... 578-2312 for Biological Diversity highlighted quote in a Sports...... 578-2300 LOCAL SPORTS E.&J.Gallo buysa Local bodybuilder 436-acrevineyard back in action in SantaBarbara aftera40-year County 3A hiatus 1B

VOLUME 141,No. 125 FACEBOOK.COM/MODESTOBEE NEWSALL DAY. Mostly Sunny STAY CONNECTED MODBEE.COM TWITTER.COM/MODBEE YOUR WAY. SATURDAY MAY52018 $1 83°/54° See2A

More investigations in sexual misconduct casesagainst pastors

resignationfrom Highlands,a Graham. BY GARTH STAPLEY churchHughey founded 20 Highlandslaunched an in- [email protected] years ago, also in Scottsdale. vestigationwith another firm, Hughey, 64,steppeddownafter MinistrySafe; another of Thesamefirm is conducting The Modesto Bee revealed Hughey’sformeremployers, separate clergy sex scandal accusations of him having sex Fellowship Bible Church in investigations of two former with girls in the Modesto con- Arkansas, said they will sponsor youth pastors at Modesto’s First gregationfourdecades ago. aprobe by an independent com- BaptistChurch,both of whom GRACEalso is investigating panyaswell. HIGHLANDCHURCH Highlands Church went on to long ministry careers Brad Tebbutt, who was ayouth FirstBaptist in Modesto, after Les Hughey, former pastor at Highlands Church, is pictured during a elsewhereafter churchleaders pastoratFirst Baptist in Modes- avote by congregants, changed sermon at the church in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 17,2017. here covereduptheir alleged to when he sexually abused to CrossPoint Community abuse. another girl 30 years ago. An- Church in 2010. Its lead pastor Virginia-based GRACE, or other Modesto pastor said Teb- more than aweek ago said But in his sermonthat day, how people should react when Godly Response to Abuse in the butt confessed to him, and Teb- CrossPoint would hire acompa- CrossPoint lead pastor Matt disappointed in their leaders. Christian Environment, has butt’s current employer, the ny to look into the Hughey alle- Whiteford said nothing about an Whiteford alsoreferredpeople been hired by Scottsdale Bible InternationalHouse of Prayerof gations,and said congregants investigation. to The Hope of Survivors web- Church to sort things out in the KansasCity, hired GRACE,run would learn more in churchon He spoke for 50 minutes wake of Les Hughey’s recent by agrandson of the lateBilly April 29. about pastors’ responsibility and SEE PASTORS, 4A

Trump rejects Giuliani’s account

BY EILEEN SULLIVAN, MICHAEL D. SHEAR AND MARK LANDLER New York Times

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump undercut his attorney Rudy GiulianionFriday, and said the former New York mayor will eventually get the facts right regarding apaymenttoa pornographic actress who said she hadanaffair withTrump. “And virtually everything said has been said incorrectly, and it’s been said wrong, or it’s beencov- ered wrong by the press,” Trump said. Giuliani, who joined Trump’s legal team last Donald month,“just Trump started aday ago,” Trumpsaid, speaking to reporters Friday as he left Washington to attendaNa- tional Rifle Associationcon- CalaverasCounty Sheriff'sOffice ventioninDallas. “He is agreat guy,” Trump CALAVERAS COUNTYDEPUTIES HALTBIG MARIJUANA GROW said. “He’ll get his facts straight.” Alarge marijuana growing operation wasdiscoveredinCalaverasCounty by deputies from that region’s Sheriff’s Office. Officials arrest- It was the first time the ed three people on Thursday, according to anewsrelease, aftermorethan 4,800marijuana plants were found. All three of the suspects president addressed the in- arefromout of state. Formore, see Page 3A. consistent narrative aboutthe payment made by his personal lawyer,Michael Cohen, to the actress,Stephanie Clifford, who goes by the stagename pragmatic style as a25-year Stormy Daniels. Trump did Feinstein: NorthKorea offers Trump incumbent. Butthe approach not offer any details Friday to also draws criticisminastate clarify the confusion, but said, chance to showhecan be agood leader leadingthe resistance to the “It’s actually very simple.But Trumpadministration.Her there has been alot of misin- more liberal challenger in the formation.” tunityand there ramento Bee Editorial Board. U.S. Senaterace casts her as out Trump’s remarkscapped a BY TARYN LUNA is, that it is ama- Feinstein commented on the of touch with California and too week of evolving facts sur- [email protected] jor openingfor the upside of Trump’s prospective soft on areckless president. rounding the Oval Office. president to really meeting withthe North Korean Approximately 53 percentof The American public U.S. Sen. DianneFeinstein show that he can leader in along response to a registered voters in the state learned its president, once says ameeting with NorthKo- be consistent, question about whether her disapproveand 41 percent ap- described by adoctoras“the rea offers Donald Trump a stable, agood patience withthe president had prove of Trump’s handling of healthiest individual ever chance showhecan be “consis- Dianne negotiator and run out.The veteran senator North Korea, according to UC elected,” actually wrote that tent, stable,agood negotiator” Feinstein work out terms of made waves in November when Berkeley IGS Poll taken in April. description himself. Trump and she believesthe president is an agreement, she said she hopedTrumpcould AmongFeinstein’s fellowDem- also hired an attorneyhepre- smart enough to approach a whichwill lend themselves to be a“good president,” calling ocrats,only 17 percent ap- viously had denied recruiting. prospective summit with Kim de-nuclearization of the Korean for patience with him. proved, while 77 percent dis- And the president contradict- Jong Un cautiously. peninsula,” Feinstein said in a Thecommentsare emblemat- “I think, if there is this oppor- meeting this week with The Sac- ic of Feinstein’s measured and SEE FEINSTEIN, 8A SEE TRUMP, 8A

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Commentonelevatorpits AUTO THEFT AROUND THE REGION SUSPECTS MODESTO Modesto Library Used Book Sale Fivepeople were arrested on What: professoragainst professor suspicion of auto theftinSta- When: Saturday, 8a.m. to 3p.m. nislaus County from April Where: Modesto Library, 16th &Istreets 19-25, 2018. Info: Friends of the Modesto Library will sell used books on the portico of the Modesto Library. Paper- Associated Press SUSPECT: backs are 50 cents; hard cover $1;special table of bar- Augustene RobertMedra- gains up to $6. Everything from fiction, nonfiction, SAN FRANCISCO no,34, of history and more. For more information, call Pat at Amale political theory THISIS AKANGAROOCOURTANDIS Modesto 209-985-7156. professor said Friday he DAMAGINGTO MY CAREERBECAUSE DAYARREST- won’t apologize to afe- ED: April 20, What: DACA Luncheon THE‘‘RE ARE PEOPLE OUT THEREWHO 2018 male gender studies pro- When: Thursday, May 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m. ARRESTING AGENCY: Modesto fessor for ajoke about SOMEHOW BELIEVEI’M AMISOGYNIST. PD Where: Red Event Center, 921Eighth St. “ladies’ lingerie” he made CHARGES: Auto theft, attempt- Info: Latino Community Roundtable lunch with while both were riding in NedLebow,politicaltheoryinstructoratKing’s ed receiving stolen property, guest speaker Solange Altman, an immigration attorney acrowded elevator. College London possession of burglarytools, from El Concilio, who will talk and take questions on Professor Ned Lebow, probation violation the current status of the DACA Program. Also, there who teaches political will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Modesto Cham- theory at King’s College After Boyer informed the Washington Post. SUSPECT: ber of Commerce CEO Cecil Russell to mark the LCR London, told The Associ- him of the complaint and “This is akangaroo Eucelia Dishall membership renewal. Cost is $20atthe door and in- ated Press he has refused asked him not to commu- court and is damaging to Fritch, 36,of cludes lunch. For more information, contact Aaron to apologize because he nicate with Sharoni, Le- my career because there Modesto Anguiano, 209-567-1040. DAYARREST- did nothing wrong and bow said he wrote her an are people out there who ED: April 20, because acomplaint filed email telling her he didn’t somehow believe I’m a 2018 What: Modesto Junior College Athletics Pirates Fest by professor Simona Sha- mean to offend her and to misogynist,” he said. ARRESTING Fundraiser roni against him with the explain that saying “La- “I’m not aHarvey Wein- AGENCY: When: Friday, May 11,6to9p.m. International Studies dies’ lingerie” was an old stein or one of these people ModestoPD Where: MJC West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. CHARGES: Auto theft, attempt- Association is “frivolous.” joke from the days when who arerepeat offenders,” ed receiving stolen property Info: Beer, wine and food celebration in the Mary Sharoni, aprofessor of elevators had human he added. “There’s never Stuart Rogers Student Learning Center features region- women’s and gender operators and people been anything like this with al beers and wines for tasting, food samples and asilent studies at Merrimack would shout what they me, quite to the contrary,I SUSPECT: auction that includes premium wines, gift certificates, College in Massachusetts, were looking to buy in a have mentoredand sup- Jason Lee Gill, gift baskets and more. Proceeds benefit the 21 sports in 39,ofModesto said in acomplaint she department store. ported women throughout DAYARREST- MJC’s athletic program. Call Box and Mattea Over- filed last month that she “In my view, this is not my career.” ED: April 20, street will play live music with KHOP 95.1 radio station was standing near the only afrivolous complaint Lebow said he worries 2018 also providing entertainment. Tickets are $40advance, elevator at aSan Francis- but one that is damaging about the chilling effect ARRESTING $45atthe door. To purchase tickets, contact the MJC co hotel and she offered to serious issues of dis- the ISA’s determination AGENCY: athletics department at 209-575-6270;MJC to press the elevator but- crimination and misogy- can have on scholars and ModestoPD Foundation at 209-575-6068; or go to CHARGES: Auto theft, theftor tons when Lebow “said ny,” Lebow said. students “making them extortion involving motor vehi- athletics.mjc.edu. with asmile on his face, The ISA disagreed and even more likely to censor cle/trailer,possession of acon- ‘women’s lingerie’ and all last week Boyer informed themselves.” trolled substance his buddies laughed.” Lebow that the disciplin- Sharoni said in an email COULTERVILLE She said she froze and ary committee had found that Lebow has refused to SUSPECT: What: Second Sunday Monthly Breakfast didn’t confront him. As his remark “offensive and take responsibility for the Gilberto Munoz, When: Sunday, May 12, 8a.m. the men walked out of the inappropriate.” effect his words had on 32, of Modesto Where: Coulterville Old Schoolhouse, Corner of elevator, the only other In adisciplinary letter, others and that since DAYARREST- Broadway and Cemetery streets ED: April 21, woman in the elevator Boyer wrote that the fact Thursday she has received 2018 Info: The Northern Mariposa County History Center turned to her and told her Lebow chose “to reach out aslew of hate mail. She ARRESTING breakfast with pancakes, eggs, ham or sausage, and maybe they should have to Prof. Sharoni, and said she worries Lebow’s AGENCY: fresh fruit. Hot coffee, tea, cocoa, orange juice and milk spoken up. They said it is termed her complaint decision “to launch a ModestoPD are available. Adults $5,children $3,family of four $15. no longer acceptable to ‘frivolous’ ”was an even public smear campaign CHARGES: Auto theft, attempt- Proceeds cover operating expenses of the Coulterville make such jokes. more serious violation directed at me” could ed receiving stolen property museum. For more information, call 209-878-3015 or “As asurvivor of sexual than the incident in the deter others from filing visit coultervillehistorycenter.org. harassment in the acade- elevator. Lebow was in- complaints because it SUSPECT: my, Iamquite shaken by structed to offer Sharoni could result in retaliation. HenryOdell this incident,” Sharoni an unequivocal written “From inappropriate Fisher,30, of JAMESTOWN wrote. apology that focuses on jokes in public spaces to Modesto What: Railtown 1897 Mother’s Day Hours after the April 5 his own actions by May 15. unwanted sexual advanc- DAYARREST- Sunday, May 13,9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ED: April 24, When: encounter, she filed a Boyer declined to com- es and assault, men in 2018 Where: Railtown 1897 SHP, 10501 Reservoir Road complaint with Mark ment Friday because he positions of power are ARRESTING Info: The six-mile, 45-minute round-trip ride takes Boyer, the executive di- said the case is ongoing. outraged when they are AGENCY: Ceres PD passengers through the Gold Country foothills. Luxury rector of ISA, which was Aggrieved by the deci- being held accountable, CHARGES: Evading apeace lounge coach No. 2901 will be available on afirst hosting the annual confer- sion, Lebow decided to go even if the sanction is as officer,autotheft, attempted come, first served basis. For more information or to receiving stolen property,pro- ence on international public. The incident was minor as arequest for an bation violation purchase tickets, visit www.railtown1897.org. Train ride relations studies. first reported Thursday by apology,” Sharoni said. tickets include park admission. Park-only admission is $5 adults, $3 ages6-17, freeages five and under. For more information, call 209-984-3953.

strength,” she said. “Presently, there is a LA GRANGE venue and platform. The What: Odd Fellows Breakfast road has been paved,” When: Sunday, May 13,8to11a.m. Epler continued. “Telling Where: IOOF Hall, 30018 Yosemite Blvd. our story is the hardest, Info: The La Grange Odd Fellows, LaFayette Lodge most painful and exposing 65,invites the public for biscuits and gravy, sausage, thing to do. But once told ham and cheese omelets and all-you-can-eat pancakes in apublic way, be with coffee and orange juice. Cost is $6 adults, $3 ages amazed at the healing and 7to12, free ages 6and under. For more information, relief that takes place.” call Chris at 209-853-2128 or email Lefforge wrote ablog [email protected]. post with encouragement, saying other survivors will “confidentially listen to TURLOCK you and give you guidance What: Sunshine Club Weekly Luncheon on what to do next.” When: Mondays, 1p.m. She praised Epler and Where: IHOP Restaurant, 1625 Countryside Drive Jennifer Roach, Tebbutt's Info: The Sunshine Club is asupport group for men victim. Lefforge also and women who have lost aloved one. Meet people wrote, “To the churches who understand what suddenly being alone really who knew and covered means. The lunch is no-host. For more information, this up: you were wrong, it contact Darlene at 209-668-6792. was evil, and you allowed (an offender) to roam free Send Region items to Region, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box and abuse others.” 5256, Modesto 95352; call 209-578-2330;fax Another avenue for 209-578-2207; or email [email protected]. HIGHLANDS CHURCHHighlands Church coming forward, although 100 YEARS AGO: The city of Riverbank planned to Les Hugheystepped down from Highlands afterthe ModestoBee revealed accusations limited to crimes commit- open its new, modern and up-to-date swimming pool. of him having sexwith girls in the Modestocongregation four decades ago. ted in Scottsdale,isits An advertisement said the public pool had achlorine police department, a gas water purifier. Residents who did not have aswim- spokesman said. The suit could rent one. FROM PAGE 1A reported former Modesto agency has received three women, encouraged by reports from women who the #MeToo movement, allege sexual misconduct PASTORS said Hughey had sex with by Hughey. them when they were in Arizona law allows Nobel prize put off to 2019 site helping victims of this week. his charge in Modesto reporting for some old The Swedish panel that said it would postpone clergy sexual abuse; off- Options for people who long ago. crimes, including sexual awards the Nobel Prize in the 2018 award until next ered to help connect peo- want to share information Weareherewo- offenses, but that law was Literature said Friday year, when it will name ple with professional include: [email protected] was not in effect some 30 that it willnot namea two winners, making this counselors; and had some A Sending email to created for “women (who) years ago and it’s not laureate this year because the first year sinceWorld therapists on site to talk GRACE at amy@net- do not feel comfortable clear whether authorities of the infighting and WarIIthat the panel will things out on the spot with grace.org, according to coming forward, but want can pursue Hughey’s case. public outragethat have not bestow the literature whoever wanted. Scottsdale Bible Church. asafe place to talk,” Full- engulfedthe group overa prize. The other Nobel But Whiteford never A Emailing help@fel- er said in an email. Garth Stapley: sexual abuse scandal. Prizes are not affected. mentioned the names Les lowshiponline.com, ac- Lefforge, also via email, 209-578-2390 The Swedish Academy —NEW YORK TIMES Hughey or Brad Tebbutt, cording to Fellowship said, “I truly believe that offered no apology for his Bible Church in Little coming forward to police, predecessors who are no Rock, Ark. and the media if they longer at CrossPoint, and A Emailing MinistrySafe want to, is their best bet had nowhere to send at [email protected], for healing, but they each people if they want to according to Highlands have to decide that on report what, if anything, Church. their own.” happened to them. Years Several women calling Tracy Epler, who broke ago, former leaders at themselves survivors of the Hughey story by say- First Baptist had told girls Hughey's abuse —all ing that he coerced her Worship/Churches Misc. to bury their secrets, all were teens in the 1980s into sex over atwo-year CHURCH DIRECTORY told The Bee. (he worked at Scottsdale period when she was 17 to On Friday, Whiteford Bible Church from age 32 19, offered thoughts to Episcopal said CrossPoint had had to 43)—established their those thinking of telling three meetings in recent own email account, wea- their stories. “My plea for days with aprospective reherewo- you is to replace your fear investigative company, [email protected], said with freedom —the free- but had nothing to report. Carrie Fuller and Jennifer dom to tell your story He indicated that no more Lefforge. They came for- while we all surround you meetings are expected ward shortly after The Bee with love, support and LOCAL SPORTS Porchfest returns High school to LaLoma, baseball playoffs: College and CCC's champions Graceada areas 3A arestill alive 1B

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Modesto police joins Stanislaus County sheriff Arizona tells Trump sanctuarylaws in clergy sexinquiry areinterferingwith safety

BY GARTH STAPLEY [email protected]

Police in Modestoand Scottsdale,Arizona, are in touch for an investigationof clergy sexualabuse, authori- tiesinArizonasaid at atown hall meeting Tuesday. Heather Graves,spokeswo- manfor Modesto police, on Wednesday confirmed con- tactbetweenthe two agen- cies, althoughthe Modesto department has taken no reports of abuse at the hands of former pastor Les Hughey. Hughey, 65,resigned last month from the megachurch he founded in Scottsdale. He stepped downfour days after TheModesto Bee published a report aboutsexualencoun- terswith young women in his charge four decades earlier when he wasayouth pastor at aprominent Modesto evangelicalchurch. Shortly afterThe Bee’s report, four women came forward with stories that Hughey fondled them when he was their youth pastor in the 1980s at ScottsdaleBible Church. Thatchurch EVAN VUCCIAP launched an independent Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson listens as PresidentDonald Trump speaks during aroundtable discussion on immigration policy investigation, and hosted in California, in the Cabinet Room of the WhiteHouse on WednesdayinWashington. Tuesday’s meeting featuring authorities with Scottsdale police and Maricopa County herself in “an untenableposi- prosecutors,attended by Sessions pledgesmore tion,” caught between conflict- Christianson’s about 60 people. ing state and federal laws. exchangewith Attendees said Hughey’s prosecutions of immigrants “It’s adisgrace,”Mims said about her department’s inability president SEE CLERGYABUSE,4A VIDEO to work with federal agents. BY FRANCO ORDOÑEZ In February, the Trumpad- during meeting [email protected] WatchSheriff Adam Christianson address ministration filed suit against a PresidentTrump, www.modbee.com. California law thatrestrictshow WASHINGTON and whenstate law enforce- BY JIM SILVA House tea tanislaus County Sheriff more than 15 local law enforce- mentcan interactwith federal [email protected] AdamChristianson sat ment officials,lawmakers and immigration authorities. The partyers try next to President Don- administration officials from administration has beenhighly Stanislaus County Sheriff ald Trumpon Wednes- California, includingFresno critical of the statelaws describ- Adam Christianson sat next to to block Sday and told him California’s CountySheriff Margaret Mims ing them as “radical” policies President Donald Trump during sanctuarylaws are interfering and El Dorado Sheriff John that endanger the lives of local ameeting on immigration and Dreamer withhis department’s ability to D’Agostini, for aroundtable law enforcement and the im- sanctuary laws at the White keepthe community safe. discussion with Trump, At- migrantcommunities them- House on Wednesday. citizenship He also told him that in Sta- torney General Jeff Sessions, selves. In addition to Christianson, nislaus County, where agricul- HomelandSecurity Secretary Sessions promised thatprose- ICE Director Thomas Homan, tureisamulti-billion dollar KirstjenNielsenand ICE Direc- cutions of criminal immigrants House Majority Leader Kevin industry, ICEisnot sweeping tor ThomasHoman on their would likely double. Homan McCarthy, and Attorney Gener- BY KATE IRBY through the fieldsgrabbing opposition to California’s sanc- pushed back against criticism al Jeff Sessions, as well as [email protected] hard-working immigrants. tuary state policies. that the administration was others, attended the meeting. “We’re looking for the people Mims looked across the table hurting immigrant families. Here’s atranscript of WASHINGTON whoare criminals,”Christian- towardPresident Donald Homan said sanctuarylaws Christianson’s comments and The conservative House son said.“Not the people who Trumpand asked him for direc- allowcriminal immigrants to his exchange with Trump. Freedom Caucus is pushing are seeking abetter life in tion and clarity.She told the return back to immigrant com- Trump: Sheriff? hard for an immigrationbill America.” president that California’s sanc- Christianson: Well, Mr. Presi- despised by many advocates Christianson joined agroupof tuary laws have put sheriffs like SEE SANCTUARY,4A dent, thank you for having us. for Deferred Actionfor Child- And first of all thank you for hood Arrivals participants “ being adefender of the rule of an effort that has achance of law, and for your overwhelming gettingaHousevote as soon support of public safety, and for as next week. standing with the men and If thatvote occurs, it would women who put their lives on make it far more difficult for the line every day. That’s just DACAbackers to get votes on tremendous. You know the legislation they’vebeen seek- great part of being last is there’s ing. not much else to say (draws The conservative bill, spon- laughter). sored by powerful House Trump (smiling): Not alot. Judiciary Committee Chair- Christianson: So in the interest man Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., of time and out of respect for does not provide aspecial your time I’ll only add one path to citizenship for so- point. And Iknow this is some- called“Dreamers.” Instead it thing that we’ve had conversa- gives athree-year renewable tions with Director Homan and legal statustopeople who Attorney General Sessions, and entered the countryillegally that’s the detainer issue. For as minors. sheriffs, that’s areal problem It completely cuts the di- for us. The federal court has versity visa lottery program as said that honoring detainers is a well as family-based migra- violation of the Fourth Amend- tion. It decreases overall legal EVAN VUCCIAP ment. That puts us in avery PresidentDonald Trump speaks during aroundtable discussion on immigration policyinCalifornia, in the SEE CITIZENSHIP, 5A Cabinet Room of the WhiteHouse on WednesdayinWashington. SEE EXCHANGE,4A

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AROUND THE REGION Fresno vene this meeting is about County fueling fear of immigrants MODESTO Sheriff and scapegoating entire What: Tex-Mex in the Plaza Margaret Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. communities.” When: Mims, Where: Tenth Street Plaza, 1010 10th St. Christianson was the Info: The Downtown Improvement District’s Friday Music in the addressing last law enforcement Plaza series continues with family friendly activities and entertain- the media officer to speak. He ment, information booths and vendors. Live music from Texas Funk outside a echoed the sentiments of from 7 to 9 p.m. Dia de Los Muertos artist John S. Huerta Arte will recent many of the other public have his art on display. For more information, call 209-585-6590 or courthouse visit modestodid.com or facebook.com. officials, thanking Trump hearing in for his work. In addition What: Yokuts Group/Sierra Club Meeting Fresno, was to the sanctuary laws When: Friday, 7 p.m. in interfering with his depu- Where: College Avenue United Church of Christ, 1341 College Washington, ties’ ability to work with Ave. D.C., on federal agents to keep the Info: Sandy Emerson will speak on divesting from institutions Wednesday that support fossil fuels. Refreshments and socializing at 6:45 p.m. county safe, he spoke of with meeting to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Free, nonmembers for a meeting the region’s importance as welcome. For more information call Elaine, 209-300-4253. with an agricultural force. President “I’m privileged to live in What: Modesto Peace/Life Center Fundraiser Donald the Central Valley, where When: Friday,7to8p.m. PABLO LOPEZ Fresno Bee file Trump. The Mistlin Gallery, 1015 J St. agriculture is the No. 1 Where: economic industry, a mul- Info: New community radio station KCBP will hold a fundraiser featuring art donated from local artists and from the private collec- FROM PAGE 1A immigration, lying about ti-billion dollar industry,” tion of Ed Bearden, former poet laureate of Stanislaus County. This crime and lying about the Christianson said. “We is a free event open to the public. KCBP’s goal is to raise $150,000 laws of California,” Brown feed the world.” for start-up and construction costs to bring community radio to the SANCTUARY said. “Flying in a dozen Responding to Mims’s greater Stanislaus area. For more information contact Pegasus 209-286-6326 or email [email protected]. Republican politicians to concerns, Trump empha- munities where they can fornia Gov. Jerry Brown flatter him and praise his sized the dangers of im- What: Choral and Handbell Concert prey on the vulnerable. and the California Legisla- reckless policies changes migrant gang members. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. “You’re not protecting ture for failing to stand up nothing. We, the citizens “You wouldn’t believe Where: First United Methodist Church, 850 16th St. immigrant communities,” for the Constitution. of the fifth largest econo- how bad these people Info: The First United Methodist Church presents its Downtown Homan said to a roomful “We’ve created a sit- my in the world, are not are,” Trump said. “These Music Series with a variety of choral and handbell music. Tickets are $10 for general admission. Box office opens at 7 p.m.; call of like-minded people. uation where Governor impressed.” aren’t people. These are 209-522-9046. “You’re putting them at Brown makes San Diego a Sen. Dianne Feinstein, animals, and we’re taking greater risk.” great place to commit a D-Calif., accused Trump them out of the country at Several of the lawmak- crime because you can of “fanning the flames of a rate that’s never hap- MI-WOK VILLAGE ers present, including either be across the bor- division.” pened before.” What: Mi-Wok Prescribed Burn Republicans House Major- der in a matter of minutes “The Trump adminis- And he assured the When: Monday Stanislaus National Forest ity Leader Kevin McCar- and shielded by Mexico or tration is once again at- sheriff the administration Where: thy of Bakersfield and you have the option of tempting to divide Cali- would continue working. Info: The United States Forest Service for the Pacific Southwest Region plans a prescribed burn of up to 140 acres along Forest Supervisor Kristin Gaspar staying put,” Gaspar said. fornians and all Amer- “We’ll take care of it, Road 3N24, off Italian Bar Road (Forest Road 2N63) south of Deer of San Diego County – Brown responded to Mr. icans with today’s White Margaret,” Trump said. Creek; Township 3 North, Range 16 East, Section 29. The prescribed who is vying to replace Trump’s roundtable re- House meeting,” Fein- burn may begin May 21 and continue through spring as long as Rep. Darrell Issa in Con- marks in a tweet. stein said in a statement. Email: fordonez@ conditions allow. For more information call 209-532-3671, mcclatchydc.com 209-586-3234 or visit fs.usda.gov/stanislaus. gress – took digs at Cali- “Trump is lying on “Their decision to con-

OAKDALE FROM PAGE 1A criminals. Not the people individuals who victimize What: Barn Extravaganza by ASTRO Thrift & Gift Shop who are working, seeking and exploit the weak and When: Saturday,8a.m.to4p.m. a better life in America, defenseless, and we Where: ASTRO Barn, 10610 Gibbs Drive EXCHANGE send their kids to school ... should be able to do that Info: Clearance sale of barn full of overflow items donated to ASTRO Thrift & Gift Shop. Mobile barista and food truck on site are out every day in agri- without interference. along with pet adoptions. ASTRO Volunteers raise funds to help precarious position from a anybody in this room at culture, whether that’s Thank you for having us. place homeless animals into homes. For more information, call the liability standpoint. And this table today, from nuts, fruit, poultry, dairy, Trump (shaking Chris- shop at 209-605-8100 or visit facebook.com/ we really need to be able defending people against you name it. That’s not tianson’s hand): Thank ASTROThriftAndGiftShop. to do our jobs without all those who exploit and what we’re doing, sir. you, Adam. That’s fantas- of the interference that’s victimize them. There We’re focused on those tic. going on. And certainly, should be no interference RIVERBANK What: Riverbank Historical Museum Breakfast I’m going to reaffirm in our ability to protect When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Director Homan’s com- our communities; to pro- OBITUARIES Where: Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St. ments. We have an out- tect our national security. Info: Omelet breakfast. Funds will go toward efforts to expand standing relationship with I’m privileged to live in the Riverbank Historical Museum. Tickets are available at City Hall, the museum, O’Brien’s Market, Farmers Insurance (Riverbank loca- ICE. We work closely with the Central Valley, where tion only) and at the door. Cost is $10; $5 ages 6 and under. For them. Since 9/11, sir, agriculture is the No. 1 more information call 209-869-7161 or visit we’ve had an unbelievable economic industry, a riverbankhistoricmuseum.com. partnership with our fed- multi-billion dollar indust- eral law enforcement ry. We feed the world. Send Region items to Region, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, agencies. And there ICE is not out sweeping Modesto 95352; call 209-578-2330; fax 209-578-2207; or email shouldn’t be anybody through those agricultural [email protected]. interfering with a sheriff’s communities. We’re look- ability, a chief’s ability, or ing for the people ... the 50 YEARS AGO: It was reported that 100 Empire residents joined to oppose a landfill-to-golf-course project in the community. The project was proposed by the city of Modesto to build a sanitary landfill to ultimately be converted to a golf course when filled to capacity over a 15 year period. FROM PAGE 1A CLERGY ABUSE

FROM PAGE 3A whereabouts are not Lefforge, one of the three, known. Authorities said said Wednesday. “I feel there is no legal reason to extremely supported by MOTORCYCLE prevent him from moving police and prosecutors, about, and gave no in- and have from the begin- its 2015 National Gang ness. dication that an arrest is ning.” Report as a group that’s “The act of encouraging imminent. Rachel Mitchell, who involved in a pattern of callers across the nation Church security asked a oversees prosecution of criminal conduct, in to flood our call center couple of Hughey family sex crimes with the Mar- which members are re- and post negative com- members to stop filming icopa County Attorney’s quired to possess and ments on our social media people outside as they office, praised Scottsdale operate a motorcycle to is what we believe to be a arrived at the meeting. A Bible Church for its re- maintain membership. tactic intended to dis- number in the audience sponse after The Bee’s Smith said that police courage our community identified themselves as report on Hughey. Other allegations that Jus Broth- safety efforts,” police said members of Highlands churches in similar sit- ers associates with motor- in the news release. Church, the uations have protected cycle gangs is false. Officials attached to the nondenominational con- clergy at the expense of “The Jus Brothers clubs police news releaseinclud- gregation Hughey found- victims, she said, accord- is autonomous,” Smith ed an online link to the ed 20 years ago, also in ing to audience members. told The Bee. “It’s an YouTube video. The Po- Scottsdale, which hired an Raised and married in individual motorcycle lice Department cau- outside company as well Modesto, Hughey pas- club, and we’re not a tioned its Facebook audi- to investigate allegations tored students at Ceres representation of any ence that the video con- against Hughey. High School for Modesto’s other club.” tained profanity and Arizona authorities First Baptist Church in the Jus Brothers was found- threats of physical harm made it clear Tuesday that 1970s when he had sex ed in 1990 with chapters to the police sergeant and people with information with girls in the Ceres throughout Northern an officer involved in last about Hughey, whether group, they said. Church California, including Sta- week’s confrontation. recent or from many years leaders dismissed him but nislaus County, Stockton, In the video, the Jus back, should contact covered up the real rea- Tracy and San Jose. The Brothers members tell the Scottsdale police at 480- son, some say, and he Stanislaus group on its police sergeant a recently 312-5000. Modesto police went on to youth ministry Facebook page asked approved state law makes will take reports at 209- jobs in Sonora, Madera, other bikers to call Sonora police profiling motorcy- 572-9500 on alleged Arkansas and Arizona. He police and tell them pro- cle clubs unlawful. But crimes in Modesto, reoffended in Scottsdale, filing will not be tolerat- the bill the members are Graves said. the Arizona women said; ed. speaking of, state “We want to encourage he then briefly worked in Sonora police officials Assembly Bill 2972, has anybody who has any- Monterey before returning said they will not be dis- not been enacted. thing to say to come to to Scottsdale to found suaded and will continue The bill, if approved, (police),” said Kory Highlands Church, whose to do their work with would prohibit peace Schuknecht, a member of income last year was $6 professionalism and fair- officers from engaging in the church’s executive million. “motorcycle profiling.” leadership team in Scotts- Modesto’s First Baptist Police would not be al- dale. “We just want the became CrossPoint Com- lowed to consider a per- truth to come out, wherev- munity Church in 2010. SETTING IT son riding a motorcycle or er it leads.” In a statement for The wearing motorcycle or Three Arizona women Bee’s April report, Hughey STRAIGHT motorcycle club-related who came forward in April admitted he had “sinned” clothing as a factor in have moved to other and confessed the next We want to make sure the enforcement decisions. states since their teens day to his congregation information in this paper AB 2972 was intro- and were unable to attend before his resignation was is accurate. Please call duced on Feb. 16 by state Tuesday. The church announced three days mistakes to our attention, Assemblymember Anna allowed an audience after. The scandal since so we may correct them. Caballero (D-Salinas). member to share real- has appeared in numerous The bill passed in an April time proceedings with the shows and publications, Local News...... 578-2330 10 Public Safety Commit- women on a conference including The New York City Desk...... 578-2327 tee with a vote of 5-2, but call from his phone. Times. Work & Money...578-2343 it failed in an April 19 “Police and prosecutors Features ...... 578-2312 Assembly Floor vote of are absolutely doing the Garth Stapley: Sports...... 578-2300 28-21. best they can,” Jennifer 209-578-2390 STATE SPORTS One hot weekend Warriors’ halftime –temperatureto routine leads to hit high 90s on big-time results Sunday 3A in thirdquarter 1B

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in the waterwhen he wasin- DNA FORSALE jured and immediately went into cardiacarrest, his mother Recentgraddies in said. There was agroup of peo- Ancestry ple along the shore who quickly performed cardiopulmonary has ahistory resuscitation to try to revive swimmingaccident him. He was taken by ambu- of breaking lance to aTempleton hospital in San Luis Obispo County, where promises Bradley, asmall 37,000 attendees this year,LA he laterdied. BY ROSALIO AHUMADA town in southern Weekly reported. Lisa Schripsema said there [email protected] Monterey Coun- The San Luis Obispo Tribune was no indicationTyler was ty. Lisa Schripse- reportedlast weekthat the intoxicated or was trying to dive BY STUART LEAVENWORTH Tyler Schripsema graduated ma said the initial family of aVentura woman who into the water. She said her son [email protected] fromStanislausState University autopsy indicated died afterattending the Light- would’ve knownthat it would lastweek,hoping to use his her son died from ninginaBottle music festival be too dangerousfor him to PROVO, UTAH bachelor’s degreeinbusiness Tyler an injury to his last year is suing the event’s jump into that shallowarea of Paul B. Allenwas there administration to work on phil- Schripsema spinalcolumn. promoter overher death. the lake only afew feet deep. during the early days of An- anthropic efforts that could “I don’t know Lisa Schripsemasaid her son The San Luis Obispo County cestry.com,when he helped developlong-term solutions to if he fell and hit his head,” she attended the eventlast yearand Sheriff’s Department conducted launch acompany to pop- help homeless people. said. “It was such afreakacci- lovedit. This year, Tyler Schripsema’s autopsy. Sheriff’s ularize family history re- The23-year-old Modesto man dent.” planned on volunteeringtohelp spokesman TonyCipollasaid search, and do it on anew- gathered with his family for a The young college graduate take downthe various booths Friday afternoonthat the cause fangled platform —the In- celebratory lunchshortly after and his friends attended the afterthe festival was done. of death is still pending.Hesaid ternet. graduation. Then,heand some Lightning in aBottlemusic On Sunday evening, Tyler investigators are awaitingtox- Since the 1990s,hehas friends packed their belongings festival, alarge gathering that had just finished cooking for icologyresults, whichtypically watchedAncestry.com evolve andheadedsouth.Henever offers campsitesalong the lake. others on the camping grounds take six to eightweeks. from scrappyUtah start-upto camehome. The festival featuresmusic on and apparentlyhad gone into Tyler Schripsemagrew up in Wall Street darling,adding Schripsemadied afterdis- several stages and art installa- the lake to cool off, when the Modesto, attending University one of world’s fastest-grow- locating his neck while swim- tions. The eventheld over Me- accident occurred. ing consumer services, DNA ming in LakeSan Antonio in morialDay weekend had about Tyler Schripsemawas alone SEE ACCIDENT,2A testing,toits records-search capabilities. He talkslike aproud father, but he is also torn up by what his corporate offspringhas become. “It is actually very painful to see acompanyboughtand sold by private equity,with- out regard to founders, em- ployees and customers,” Allen said while sittingata picnic table near the compa- ny’s old corporate headquar- ters in Provo. Ancestry.com officials say that customer trust is atop priority,one reason that more than 5million people have spit in atube andpaid $70to $100 to havetheir genetic data analyzed by Ancestry. But overthe last five years, the company hasrenegedon promises to customers and partnersinseveralinstances. Allen and other former em- ployees say this backtracking raises questions if the compa- ny will followthrough on consumer privacypledges as it develops the world’s largest DNA database. In 1998,when Allen was CEO, Ancestry.com launched MyFamily.com, asocial net- work people could use to researchtheir extended fam- ilies. It was an immediate hit, attracting 1million registered users in 140days. By 2004, ANDY ALFARO [email protected] the yearFacebook had first Jennifer Roach, 47,stands outside CrossPointCommunityChurch in Modesto. Roach wassexually abused by ayouth pastor as ateenagerat launched, MyFamily.com had what wasthen First Baptist Church. Roach filed alawsuit in SanFrancisco,seeking unspecified damages. attracted1.5 million users, who posted photos and docu- ments sharedfamily stories, of men leading the church now aided by the databasesand and since the 1970s. search abilities that Ancestry- Modestochurch facing lawsuit They “relied on their posi- .com had developed. tions of power to overwhelm Flash forward to 2014 — and silence victims and their after Ancestry briefly had from sexual abuse survivor families” when Roach and become apublicly traded others came forward with sto- company before beingac- the church’s alleged negligence, VIDEO ries of abuse, the lawsuit says, quired by aprivate equity BY GARTH STAPLEY failure to supervise her abusive charging that leaders “continue group. That was the year [email protected] youth pastor, sexual battery and Forvideo of Jennifer Roach telling her to pursue apolicy of secrecy.” when the company an- infliction of emotional distress. story,please visit modbee.com Current lead pastor Matt nounced it was closingdown he Modesto church that Roach, emboldened by the Whiteford arrived in Modesto MyFamily.com. Customers allegedly covered for #MeToo movement, was the Modesto’s CrossPoint long after the alleged abuse. On were given afew months to sexually abusive pas- focus of aModesto Bee report in Community Church, formerly Friday, he said it would not be download photos, butthe tors years ago faces a February, leading to an First Baptist, is not specifically appropriate to comment on a company did notgive Tlawsuit from avictim. investigation commissioned by named in the lawsuit, filed last lawsuit he knows nothing about. customers any easy way to Jennifer Roach, now 47 and aKansas City church now em- week. Defendants will be added “I do know that since Ihave preserveconversations and livinginWashington state, ploying Brad Tebbutt, her abus- in time, says the document, seeks unspecified damages for er three decades ago. whose narrative includes names SEE LAWSUIT,4A SEE DNA, 4A

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AROUND THE REGION FROM PAGE 1A tinue to make the data- base public. But in 2015, MODESTO Korean War Veterans, Post 316 Meeting the company announced it What: DNA could no longer do so, When: Monday, 1 p.m. Where: Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road, Suite 15 saying “the site has been Info: Post 316 invites any service member that served during exchanges. used for purposes other the Korean War and any veterans who served in the Korean De- Numerous customers than what was intended.” fense Forces. For more information contact Ernest Lewis at were outraged, noting that Woodward says he still 209-523-7387 and leave a message. the company’s website hears blowback about the had promised not only company’s decision from What: National Gun Violance Awareness Rally When: Saturday, noon to 1 p.m. unlimited storage space, genealogists and others. Where: Briggsmore and McHenry Avenues but technology to “keep “Those were things that Info: The Democratic Women’s Club is hosting the rally to mark all of your family memo- greatly concerned us at National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Attendees are encouraged ries safe and secure. No SMGF,” said Woodward, to wear orange. matter what.” who had worked at Ances- Allen, who had left try for two years after the What: Modesto Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ancestry.com a decade acquisition in 2012. “The When: STUART LEAVENWORTH McClatchy Where: Famiglia Bistro, 2501 McHenry Ave. earlier, was one of those contract said that data Info: Each week the club has a new presentation and discus- angry users. “My wife and would continue to be Paul B. Allen, a co-founder of Ancestry.com, stands sions about upcoming club events. Seats are limited and reserva- her sisters had 88,000 available, and Ancestry before the company’s previous headquarters in Utah. tions are required. Lunch is $15. For more information or to re- serve a seat, contact President Jeremiah Williams 209-568-3096. messages they had shared would keep it up. They with each other over a didn’t. They decided it What: American Red Cross blood drive 17-year period,” he said. was a bigger risk to them, goal of connecting people vestment, mainly from When: Various Days “That is family history, having it up. “ with all of the world’s equity fund companies Where: Various locations and it got destroyed and Asked about the compa- most important writings. such as SilverLake and Info: The American Red Cross is seeking the public’s help in along with everyone else’s ny’s handling of the Fam- A 1990 speech by Brigh- GIC, which stand to score a maintaining its blood supply. Visit the following locations: Modes- to Blood Donation Center, 1900 W. Orangeburg Ave., Sunday, 7:45 family history.” ilyTree.com and Sorenson am Young University windfall if the company a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Sonora Blood Donation Center, 850 Sanguinetti One year later, Ances- cases, Ancestry declined President Rex E. Lee in- launch a new IPO (initial Road, Sunday, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Turlock Blood Donation try.com made a similarly to respond. But after the spired the idea, prompting public offering). Center, 655 E. Hawkeye, Sunday, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. To find abrupt decision with a closure of the Sorenson Allen and another BYU Because of its home other locations and times, or for more information, download the publicly available DNA database, Ancestry issued graduate, Dan Taggart, to base in Utah, Ancestry is American Red Cross blood donor app, go to database it had acquired a regretful statement. found a company called often regarded as a “Mor- www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. from the Sorenson Molec- “Unfortunately, it has Infobases that year. mon company,” and there ular Genealogical Founda- come to our attention the As it grew, the company no doubt it has partnered COULTERVILLE tion in 2012. site has been used for started focusing more on with the Church of Latter What: Second Sunday Monthly Breakfast The database, the out- purposes other than that genealogy, finding there Day Saints on genealog- When: June 10, 8 a.m. growth of a project which it was intended, was an enormous market ical data, and drawn part Where: Coulterville Old Schoolhouse, Corner of Broadway and launched by the late Utah forcing us to cease oper- for U.S. census and family of its workforce from Cemetery streets billionaire James L. Sore- ations of the site,” the history records, which Mormon universities. But Info: The Northern Mariposa County History Center holds its Second Sunday monthly breakfast. Adults $5, children $3, family of nson, collected DNA company said. The state- initially it sold on compact Allen, a practicing Mor- four $15. Proceeds cover operating expenses of the Coulterville samples and family ment added that, “There disks. In 1996, it started mon, insists the company museum. For more information, call 209-878-3015 or visit histories from 100,000 are no plans to destroy the putting these records never received investment coultervillehistorycenter.org. people worldwide, ranging DNA that was contrib- online at Ancestry.com, or direction from the LDS from West Africa to Mon- uted, but have no plans to an early marriage of the church. If anything, he golia. Participants signed make the service available internet and genealogy. said, the current company LA GRANGE consent forms in which in the future.” Jenn Utley, a family is more shaped by Silicon What: Odd Fellows Breakfast When: June 10, 8 to 11 a.m. Sorenson pledged their Ancestry’s critics say historian who has worked Valley than Salt Lake City Where: IOOF Hall, 30018 Yosemite Blvd. DNA would be part of a the company has a history at Ancestry.com since and the Mormon Church, Info: The La Grange Odd Fellows, LaFayette Lodge #65 invites public database, which of acquiring public geneal- 1997, credits Allen and which has a long history the public to its second Sunday breakfast at the IOOF Hall. Cost is people worldwide could ogy assets and then mak- Taggart for recognizing of researching people’s $6 adults, ages 7 to 12 are $3, and 6 and under are free. Compli- mentary coffee and orange juice will also be available. For more use to investigate their ing them inaccessible. the potential of harnessing family histories. information call Chris at 209-853-2128 or email connections to each other. One of these was Family new technology in the On a recent weekday in [email protected]. In 2015, however, police Tree Maker, a popular cause of researching peo- Provo, Allen strolled in Idaho accessed the Sore- genealogy software it ple’s roots. around the grounds of the nson database in an at- discontinued in 2015. Late “They saw this new company’s old office com- OAKDALE tempt to identify a suspect last year, the company ‘internet thing’ was going plex, which has sat empty What: Click-It or Ticket Campaign Through Sunday in a 1996 cold-case mur- also shut down RootsWeb, to be huge for the field of since Ancestry.com moved When: der. The police intrusion a free genealogy commu- genealogy, which it has in 2016 to a sparkling new Where: City of Oakdale Info: The Oakdale Police Department would like to remind resulted in a false match — nity, after hackers broke been,” said Uttley. “It has headquarters in Lehi, a few motorists to buckle up as the busy summer travel season is near. with an innocent New into the site and compro- completely revolutionized miles to the north. The This reminder is a part of the “Click It or Ticket” national seat belt Orleans man questioned in mised the sign-ins of the field of genealogy.” visit, he said, brought back campaign. The police department will deploy additional officers the case. It also generated 300,000 users, including Yet neither Taggart nor a stream of memories. during the two-week campaign on special traffic patrols to stop and ticket both drivers and passengers for failing to use the negative publicity for An- 55,000 that were regis- Allen survived in the com- “When we started this vehicle’s safety belt restraints. This will also include drivers who cestry.com, which decided tered Ancestry.com users. pany they launched. Allen company, we were not fail to secure children in the proper child restraint seats. For more that year to put the public Ancestry says it has left in 2002, after the dot- about exploitation. We information contact Oakdale PD PIO Janeen Yates at 209-847-2231. portions of the Sorenson since been working to com bubble exploded, were about helping people database behind a firewall. rebuild RootsWeb with pounding scores of internet make connections and Send Region items to Region, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Scott Woodward, the better security, but it has companies. From 2009 to strengthen family ties.” Modesto 95352; call 209-578-2330; fax 209-578-2207; or email former executive director not yet restored it. 2012, Ancestry.com be- And now? [email protected]. of the Sorenson Molecular According to Allen, came a publicly traded “I am not sure,” he said. 100 YEARS AGO: In Turlock, plans were being made for the Genealogical Foundation, Ancestry’s origins had company, and in 2012 Fourth of July celebration for the community. The celebration said Ancestry had signed a little to do with family launched its current DNA- Stuart Leavenworth: would double as a Red Cross benefit with the minimum goal of contract with the founda- history. Instead, they testing services. It has since 202-383-6070, $1,000 to be collected. The Fourth of July committee was headed tion saying it would con- sprang from the idealistic soared with private in- @sleavenworth by J. V. Baker, C. V. Lundahl and George Kieth. The committee also planned to have a barbecue, auction sale and other activities for the community to enjoy. FROM PAGE 1A after The Bee’s report. gregation in Modesto, Roach’s lawsuit was hosting large events such filed May 24 in San Fran- as funerals for dignitaries LAWSUIT cisco because some of her and fallen law enforce- interactions with Tebbutt ment officers. been here at the church, was 15, the lawsuit says. happened there, the law- When Roach first con- US deports relative and for many years before Bee reports this year suit says. fided in church leaders, that, CrossPoint has had have outlined: Statutes of limitation she was told that airing in place strong policies, A Allegations that then- expired years ago, pre- accusations “would cause of couple who practices, and procedures youth pastor Les Hughey venting criminal prose- damage to the reputation in place to create a safe had sexual encounters cution now. of the church and would died fleeing agents environment,” Whiteford with girls in his charge at Roach’s Sacramento sully the reputation of said in an email. “Cross- First Baptist in the 1970s. attorney, Joseph C. Jesus himself,” the lawsuit Point is deeply committed In April, Hughey admitted George, seeks a civil rem- says. A pastor asked her after their SUV hit a utility to caring for and helping having “sinned” at his edy based on California “if she was trying to ruin Associated Press pole and overturned. The people within our church Modesto post and insurance law requiring (Tebbutt’s) life in some couple’s children range in family and in the broader resigned as senior pastor that victims be warned in way,” the document says; DELANO age from 8 to 18. community. And we con- at a megachurch he had writing of applicable stat- eventually she was put in The U.S. has deported a “Still grieving the tragic tinue to weep with and founded in Scottsdale, utes of limitation. That a room with a few leaders, Mexican man who was deaths of their farm work- pray for anyone who has Ariz. requirement should have all men, to recount with sought in California earli- er parents … the six chil- been a victim of abuse or A The convictions of been triggered when First “specific details” the er this year when im- dren of Santos Hilario other harm.” Bob Chapman and George Baptist arranged for an- abuse she suffered, the migration agents mistak- Garcia and Marcelina Whiteford five weeks Austin for separately mo- other youth pastor to meet lawsuit says. enly followed his two Garcia Profecto were ago had said an investiga- lesting several boys they with Roach for a few In California, child relatives who sped away dealt a new blow when tion was pending; this met and worked with at counseling sessions in victims of sexual abuse, if in their car and crashed, ICE agents deliberately week, he did not respond First Baptist in the 1989, and when she at- they’re now older than 26, killing both and leaving picked up their closest to a request for an update. mid-1980s. tended group therapy at serve defendants with six orphaned children. remaining family mem- Roach, now an ordained A Tebbutt’s abuse of the church, but she never lawsuit notices only if a United Farm Workers ber, their uncle Celestino Anglican minister, visited Roach from 1986 to 1988. was so advised, the law- judge finds “reasonable Foundation Executive Hilario Garcia, at the Modesto on Thursday and Tebbutt, then 27 and suit says. and meritorious cause“ Director Diana Tellefson Delano apartment build- said she hopes the lawsuit married, befriended First Baptist did nothing after reviewing the opin- Torres said that immigra- ing where both families will prompt a “cultural Roach when her father to prevent Tebbutt from ion of a mental health tion agents detained the live,” Torres said in a shift” in CrossPoint and died, and took advantage abusing others, the law- expert. CrossPoint would children’s uncle, Celestino statement that noted he other churches. She said of her sexually in his suit says; The Bee has be notified should that Hilario Garcia, on has a wife and four chil- they should acknowledge, church office, his car and found no evidence sug- happen with Roach’s law- Wednesday in the San dren of his own. “ ‘This is part of our histo- his home when she was a gesting he did. suit. Joaquin Valley community Immigration and Cus- ry and we’re going to take student at Beyer High in Hughey, however, took Clients of Roach, a of Delano, The Bakers- toms Enforcement said in it seriously. We’ve been Modesto, Roach said. advantage of four more therapist near Seattle, field Californian reported. a statement that the uncle formed and shaped by this After he left town, she girls at Scottsdale Bible include sexual trafficking He was sought in March had been in the United in ways we don’t under- confided in church leaders Church, the alleged vic- victims and people with when his relatives Santos States illegally and was stand, and we now have to who told her to forgive tims — now women — said substance abuse problems Hilario Garcia and Marce- sent to Mexico. be held to account for it.’ and forget and who did after The Bee chronicled and mental illness. She lina Garcia Profecto died The statement noted he “In a way, I’m sorry the not advise authorities or allegations against Hugh- has cooperated with the had a long history that courts are the ones who her mother, she said. ey in April. First Baptist Tebbutt investigation to included U.S. authorities have to do that,” she con- Tebbutt confessed years leaders kept hidden the the extent allowed by her allowing him to volun- tinued. “I tried for years ago when confronted by a real reason he was fired attorney, she said. SETTING IT tarily return to Mexico for (church leaders) to First Baptist pastor, the four decades ago, alleged “Investigations help seven times between have a conversation with pastor told The Bee, and victims in Modesto said, people who have been STRAIGHT 2002 and 2009. me, but they haven’t. I Tebbutt later apologized and he went on to minis- through (abuse) to not feel “In April 2009, an im- found a new way to do for sexually abusing try jobs in Sonora, Mad- disbelieved,” she said. “A We want to make sure the migration judge issued that.” Roach in a lengthy letter era, Monterey and Little lot of church people just information in this paper him a final order of re- Decades ago, First Bap- to her. But circumstances Rock, Ark., before settling have no idea it’s ever is accurate. Please call moval, and ICE removed tist was well aware it had of the abuse were kept in Arizona. He is being happened in their church, mistakes to our attention, him to Mexico twice, once a problem with some under wraps and Tebbutt investigated by authorities let alone any church, or so we may correct them. in April 2009 and again in predatory adults, but went on to a 30-year ca- and two Arizona churches, how to address it, how May 2009. He has three “failed to implement rea- reer in youth ministry; his including Highlands, that interfaces with some- Local News...... 578-2330 criminal convictions for sonable safeguards” to latest employer, Interna- which he founded 20 one’s spirituality, and how City Desk...... 578-2327 driving under the influ- prevent Tebbutt from tional House of Prayer of years ago. it should be tended to. “ 1 Work & Money...578-2343 ence,” ICE stated. inducing Roach into 2 ⁄2 Kansas City, placed him First Baptist changed to Features ...... 578-2312 years of sexual encoun- on leave and hired an CrossPoint in 2010 and Garth Stapley: Sports...... 578-2300 ters, starting when she outside firm to investigate remains a prominent con- 209-578-2390 BUSINESSBEAT SPORTS Drink up: Five Memorial is final newcraft beer Montana-to-Clark bars opening momentfor 49ers acrossvalley 3A teammates 1B

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Board of Supervisors approved Church $50,000 to cover the costs of preparing written comments County leadersto and giving testimony at hear- named ings and for educational out- reach. The county received help in sexual Tuesday from supervisors in expandwater fight Merced County who approved $50,000 for the education and abuse outreach effort, which is led by Stanislaus. lawsuit past‘fishvs.farmers’ Other cities and irrigation districts may contribute to the effort. reservoirs will have far-reaching Mike North, amanagement BY GARTH STAPLEY Stanislaus, Mercedeach spend impacts on groundwater, the analyst for Merced County, said [email protected] $50K to fueloutreachefforts economy, employment, busi- the county is using social media ness owners, public safety and and working with the Farm SAN FRANCISCO disadvantaged communities. Bureau and other partners to Modesto’sCrossPoint VIDEO The State Water Resources spread the word about the Aug. Community Church is for- BY KEN CARLSON Control Board will hold hear- 20 rally inSacramento. mally sued by awoman [email protected] Watchcounty supervisor Kristin Olsen ings on its final proposal for the Two years ago, Merced whowas sexually abused by criticizestate’swater plan. modbee.com Bay Delta plan Aug. 21-22. chipped in $20,000 to help ayouth pastor when she Stanislaus County leaders County officials hope at least Stanislaus and San Joaquin wasateen30years ago. hope that broader outreach will from fish-against-farmers to 1,000 people attend arally counties pay for an economic Jennifer Roach, now 47, help win abattle against apow- broader issues,” Assistant Chief outside the Capitol building in impact study called the Strate- alleged sexual battery, neg- erful state board’s plan to take Executive Officer Keith Boggs Sacramento Aug. 20.The rally con Report, which outlined the ligence, failure to supervise water rights from local irriga- said Thursday. is set for noon on the north economic consequences of the youth tion districts. County officials say the state steps of the Capitol. pastor, and “We are moving the message proposals to reduce storage in In July, the Stanislaus County SEE WATER,10A infliction of emotional distress when she initially suednine weeks ago. Jennifer But Roach CrossPoint, formerly First Baptist,was not specif- ically namedbecauseofa legal technicalityrequiring thatajudge sign off on the analysis of amental health expert. The analysis remains sealed from public view, but Judge HaroldKahn of San FranciscoSuperior Court signed the “finding of rea- sonable and meritorious cause for filing of action” on July 26, granting Roach “leave to designate (defen- dants) by their true names.” Roach’s Sacramento attorney,JosephGeorge, refiled Wednesday using CrossPoint’s current and former names, and includ- ing as adefendant former youth pastorBrad Tebbutt. Roach seeks unspecified damages. CrossPointlead pastor Matt Whiteford,who ar- rived in Modesto longafter the alleged abuse, could not be reached for comment Thursday,and individual messagessent to eachof the church’s 12 deacons drewnoimmediatere- sponse. Tebbutt’slast-known employer, International MARCUSYAM TNS House of Prayer of Kansas Firefighters watchasair tankers drop fireretardantahead of the River FireinLakeportonWednesday. New planes could takeyears to arrive. City, placed him on leave after The Modesto Bee reportedRoach’s storyin 1,000 homes in and around February, and later Redding, north of San Francis- commissioned an Congresspavesway forseven co, and killed at least six people. investigation by athird It’s currently the seventh most party with expertise in cler- destructive fire in California’s gy abuse. firefighting planes, but date history. State officials don’t The Beealso has reported expect the rest of this year’s fire that then-youthpastor Les season to ease. Hughey had sexual encoun- of arrival could be years away The newly authorized fire- ters withgirls in his charge fighting program mandates that at First Baptist in the 1970s, seven C-130Coast Guard air- and thattwo male craft be converted into air tank- volunteers separately mo- BY KATE IRBY ers and given to Cal Fire, the lested several boys they met [email protected] primary state firefighting agen- andworked with at First cy. Baptist in the mid-1980s. WASHINGTON Cal Fire would then use the Alleged FirstBaptist cover- ore help is on the aircraft, larger than many in its ups allowed two of the three way for the increas- current fleet of about 60 planes, men to reoffend additional ingly devastating for carrying larger amounts of victims at other churches, California fire sea- flame retardant. The Beefound. Mson, thanks to Congress. “These C-130s fit the bill we Hughey resigned as se- Only trouble is, that help need,” said Scott McLean, Cal nior pastor at an Arizona won’t be there this year, pos- Fire spokesman. “They’re not as megachurch in the wake of sibly not next year or the year nimble as some of our other The Bee’s report in April, after that. And the last time planes, but they fit aneed we’ve and remainsunderinvesti- Congress tried to provide the been asking for for quite a gation by authorities and same resources, after years of while.” two evangelical churches in work and approving tens of Cal Fire currently uses planes that state. millions of dollars, it didn’t borrowed from the National Garth Stapley: 209-578- deliver. MARCUS YAMTNS Guard for carrying larger 2390 The Carr Fire ravaging Cali- Helicopters makewater drops on the River Firenear Lakeporton fornia has destroyed more than Wednesday. Planes promised by Congresscould ease firewoes. SEE PLANES, 10A

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ties to fill vacanciesinthe last five years, butstruggles with turnover in acompetitive labor Deputies settoget a market, according to acounty staff report. The Sheriff’s Department typically has about20vacancies each month. When avacancy 10 percentsalaryboost occurs, it costs$85,000 and takesalmost 18 monthstohire and develop anew deputy to journey-levelsalaries,which are belief,” said Randon Kirkbride, mute distance in Tracy, Mante- work independently, the staff BY KEN CARLSON 10 percenthigher,will keep president of the Stanislaus ca or Elk Grove,the unionpresi- report says. [email protected] deputies from jumping to high- Sworn Deputies Association. dent said. Jeff Dirkse, who takes over as er-paying departments. Kirkbride saidit’s amorale “Most of our patrol staff to- sheriff in January,said he talked StanislausCounty will try a The countywilloffer a booster for deputies who sur- day has lessthan five years on with county Chief Executive newpackage of incentives to $1,000bonus for Sheriff’s De- vivedlayoffs caused by the the job,” Kirkbride pointed out. Officer Jody Hayesaboutnar- solve alongstanding problem — partment employees whorefer a Great Recession and watched About 10 years ago, the sher- rowing the pay gap between the hiring and keeping deputies candidate who is hired as a less fortunate colleagueslose iff’s office had 214allocated Sheriff’s Department and other whoprotect the public. deputyand clears the probation- homes and livelihoodsafter positions for patrol and other law enforcement agencies. Earlier this week,county ary period.Inaddition, new getting layoffslips. frontline deputies. The nation’s Deputies can boosttheir an- supervisors created aDeputy hires relocating fromanother The county has tried to re- financial turmoil in 2008 led to nual income $35,000 by work- Sheriff II classification as a countywill receivea$2,500 build the force as the economy painfulcuts, slashingallocated ing for Livermore police, Dirkse career track for sworndeputies movingallowance. improvedinthe last several positions to 142in2011. said.Anevaluation found that with at least two yearsexperi- The package takes effectin years, but experienced deputies The county has 180positions someofthose who left would ence. January. can earn alot more workingfor for sworn deputies in the 2018- Officials hope the new “We are kind of still in dis- police departments within com- 19 budget and hired 172depu- SEE DEPUTIES, 8A

Predator pastor now aidscase against church

BY GARTH STAPLEY [email protected]

Aformer youth pastor who sexually abused agirl three decades ago is cooperating now with her attorneys in a lawsuit against Modesto’s CrossPoint Church, formerly First Baptist Church. In return for his help, Brad Tebbutt was Brad dropped as a Tebbutt defendant in the lawsuit brought by Jennifer Roach, now 47 and living in Wash- ington state. “During the course of dis- J. SCOTTAPPLEWHITE AP covery, Jennifer realized that The U.S. Capitol on Fridaymorning waslightly attended as most lawmakers had already leftWashington. Yetboth the House and Senateare Brad did make agenuine due to be back in session next week overhefty matters,including the budget, whereanimpasse mighttriggeragovernmentshutdown. apology and she has genu- inely forgiven him. And, he has cooperated with the liti- pay. Democrats estimated that gation,” her Sacramento would accountfor morethan lawyer, Joseph George, said Shutdown looms, but you 420,000 workers, including Friday in atelephone in- federal law enforcement and terview. correctional officers, FBI “By contrast, the discovery agents, ForestServicefire- underscores that First Baptist mighthardly notice here fighters and Drug Enforcement and its leaders had apattern Agency agents. and practice of striving to Another 380,000 people avoid scandal and any nega- points –would stay on the job, State, Interior, Agriculture, would be furloughed,including tive publicity whatsoever, and BY LESLEY CLARK evenastheir paychecks are Treasury, Commerce and Jus- staffers with NASAand the handling anything in house, [email protected] suspended. tice, along with Homeland Se- NationalPark Service.Though with Tebbutt and others,” Adeal to avert the shutdown curity,thoughmany of its law it’s likely parks would stay open, George said. WASHINGTON seemed elusive at week’s end. enforcement agents would keep the administration in January CrossPoint’s pastor and It might be difficulttosee the House members left Thurs- working because they’re consid- notedthat parks must “notify San Francisco attorneys did impact of agovernment shut- day morning afteraround of ered essential. visitors that the NPS will cease not respond Friday to email down. votes and aren’t expected back Each federal agency develops providing visitor services, in- requests for comment. If Congressand President in Washington until Wednesday its ownplan for ashutdown, cluding restrooms, trash collec- The church filed aresponse Donald Trump fail to reach an night –less than 72 hours before following prior guidance. The tion,facilitiesand roadsmainte- to the lawsuit in September agreement on funding nine funding runs out. plans, coordinated by the Office nance (including plowing), denying responsibility and Cabinet agencies and several Trump has threatenedto of Management and Budget, campgroundreservationand saying Roach can blame any smaller departments by Dec.21, close down the government if detail whichgovernment activ- check-in/check-outservices.” woes on her own “act, omis- those parts of government could Senate Minority Leader Chuck ities are put on hold and which Among the effects citedinan sion, fault, negligence or close. Schumer, D-New York, and employeesare considered es- analysisbySenate Democrats: carelessness.” Ajudge also But other agencies, including House Minority Leader Nancy sentialand must report to work, A The USDA would close should dismiss the case by the Pentagon, Health and Hu- Pelosi, D-California, who is even if their pay is delayed. everylocal and state farm serv- reason of California’s civil man Services and Education poised to take over in January as Despite the limited nature of ice centerand FarmService statutes of limitations, the plus energy and water pro- House speaker, do not ac- the shutdown, Senate Demo- Agency staff wouldn’tbeavail- response says; such statutes grams, have been funded quiescetohis demandfor $5 crats painted agrim portrait of able for consultations. in criminal law prevent Teb- through the end of the fiscal billion in border wall funding. what could ensue three days A Smallbusinesses would not butt from being prosecuted. year Sept.30, 2019. They have resistedand made it before Christmas.They estimat- have access to the Small Busi- In addition to Roach’s sto- And most federal employees plain Trump will take the blame ed thateven apartial shutdown ness Administration’s federally- ry, The Modesto Bee earlier who perform high-profile, es- for ashutdown. would affect more than assistedloans and technical this year reported that then- sential duties for officially un- Agencies poised to lose fund- 800,000 federal employees. assistance, as SBA guaranteesto youth pastor Les Hughey had funded agencies –such as the ing Dec.21include the Depart- Employeesdeemed essential back loans would freeze. sexual encounters with girls Transportation Security Agency ments of Transportation, Hous- are requiredtocontinue work- officers manning airportcheck- ing and Urban Development, ing, but they’d do so without SEE SHUTDOWN,8A SEE PASTOR,8A

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A U.S. judge fined the utility $3 million after it Death sentences plummet State says PG&E falsified was convicted of six felo- across California and nation ny charges for failing to properly maintain a nat- and more skeptical juries. pipeline safety records ural gas pipeline that ex- BY MAURA DOLAN Some pointed to frustra- ploded in 2010 and wiped Los Angeles Times tion in California about out a neighborhood in the lack of executions as Associated Press suburban San Bruno. Reg- In 2015 and again in well as the bloating of ulators also fined PG&E 2017, Riverside County death row and the costs of SAN FRANCISCO $1.6 billion for the blast. held the grim distinction capital trials. Regulators on Friday “This is the period im- of sending more people to The report said River- accused one of Califor- mediately following the death row than any other side, Los Angeles, Orange, nia’s largest utilitiesof 2010 San Bruno gas ex- county in the nation. Kern and San Bernardino falsifying safety docu- plosion and fire that re- But so far this year, no counties were among the ments for natural gas sulted in eight fatalities, one in Riverside County top 10 producers of death pipelines for years follow- numerous injuries and has been sentenced to sentences nationwide in ing its criminal conviction damage to property,” the death, reflecting a trend the last five years. and multimillion-dollar commission said in its seen in California and Riverside went from 17 fine for a pipeline explo- report. “This commission across the country, ac- death sentences in those sion that killed eight peo- would expect that after cording to a new report. years to zero this year, Los ple near San Francisco. such a tragedy, caused by Five California counties, Angeles from 14 to two, The California Public multiple proven violations among the 10 with the Orange from six to one, Utilities Commission said of law, PG&E would have most death sentences Kern from four to zero, an investigation by its PAUL SAKUMA AP file sought to vigorously en- nationwide in the last five and San Bernardino from safety and enforcement A massive fire from a pipeline explosion roars through a hance and increase its years, either had no sen- three to zero. division found Pacific Gas neighborhood in San Bruno in 2010. effectiveness in all aspects tences or no more than Although support for & Electric Co. lacked of its gas safety.” two, according to the the death penalty has enough employees to fulfill The investigation was report by the Death Penal- been waning, California requests to find and mark the commission said. PG&E said it has hired forwarded Thursday to a ty Information Center. voters in recent years natural gas pipelines. “Utility falsification of more employees and im- judge, who will hear testi- In fact, no U.S. county have decided to keep it. Because of the staff safety-related records is a proved its pipeline track- mony on the findings and handed down more than Instead of abolishing it, shortage, PG&E pressured serious violation of law and ing system. will allow PG&E to pro- two death sentences – a voters most recently supervisors and locators to diminishes our trust in the “We’re committed to vide evidence that it first since executions passed a measure in- complete the work, lead- utility’s reports on their accurate and thorough didn’t violate safety laws. resumed more than 40 tended to speed up execu- ing staff to falsify data progress,” commission reporting and record- The utility that provides years ago after they had tions. from 2012 to 2017, reg- President Michael Picker keeping, and we didn’t service to millions of peo- been halted by the U.S. The new law removed ulators said. The company said. “These findings are live up to that commit- ple throughout Northern Supreme Court. some impediments to “had common knowledge another example of why we ment in this case,” utility California also is under Analysts attributed the executions, but they re- among its supervisors that are investigating PG&E’s spokesman Matt Nauman scrutiny for its role in decline to more selective main blocked by court locators falsified data,” safety culture.” said in a statement. igniting wildfires. charging by prosecutors orders.

FROM PAGE 1A recruit patrol officers from earning the promotion is Cities that contract for COUNTY DEPUTY other departments and completing classes in sheriff service will see STAFF HAS DEPUTIES retain veteran staff. crisis intervention, drivers cost increases totaling “It puts us where we under the influence of $363,000 this fiscal year INCREASED BY should have been years alcohol or drugs, and and $753,000 in the fol- have stayed with Stanis- ment posting, the county ago,” Kirkbride said. “At traffic collision investiga- lowing year. The county is ONLY 22 OFFICERS laus County if the pay was offers a salary range of one time, we were com- tion. offering to cover 50 per- IN THE PAST SIX closer, he added. $64,064 to $77,875 an- petitive with Modesto PD. The CEO’s office will cent of the cost increase “We have had some- nually for sheriff deputies, With the layoffs and pay make adjustments to ser- for the contract cities — YEARS. MORE ARE thing like a net gain of 22 which does not include cuts, we fell far behind.” geant, lieutenant, captain Hughson, Patterson, Riv- NEEDED deputies in six years,” the overtime pay. Officials The county expects it’ll and undersheriff salaries erbank and Waterford — if sheriff-elect said. “At this hope the opportunity of a cost $2.46 million as al- and negotiate labor con- they agree to more flex- rate, it would take six to career-track promotion most 140 deputies be- tract amendments with ible assignment of sher- 10 years to fill our current with a salary band from come eligible for journey- unions representing su- iff’s staff among the cities allocations.” $70,304 to $85,654 a year level status and the 10 pervisors and sheriff man- and the unincorporated According to a recruit- will enable the county to percent raises. Part of agement employees. area.

was retained “to review sexual abuse is 52, accord- all that we currently do ing to CHILD USA, a and to give their recom- group advocating for long- IT’S OUTRAGEOUS mendations for continued er statutes of limitations. improvement,” the letter Victims wait decades, or THAT SOMEONE said. never report being sexually ‘‘WHO WAS On Sept. 30, Gov. Jerry assaulted, for many rea- Brown vetoed Assembly sons including self-blame SEXUALLY Bill 3120, which had been and failing to recognize ASSAULTED AS A passed by state legislators abuse as criminal, accord- and would have expanded ing to research compiled by CHILD CAN the window that survivors Harvard’s Shorenstein ACTUALLY RUN of childhood sexual abuse Center on Media, Politics have to file lawsuits. and Public Policy. OUTOFTIMETO “Even though valid and Two days after the Nov. profoundly important 6 midterm elections, Cali- SEEK JUSTICE.... claims are at stake, all fornia Attorney General jurisdictions have seen fit Xavier Becerra launched a Assemblywoman Lorena to bar actions after a lapse drive to gather informa- Gonzalez Fletcher of years,” Brown said in a tion from anyone who letter to Assembly mem- believes he or she was bers, citing English com- sexually mistreated by senior pastor at an Arizo- mon law dating to 1623 clergy. His office asks ANDY ALFARO [email protected] na megachurch in the and other statutes in the people to fill out an online Jennifer Roach photographed outside CrossPoint Community Church in Modesto, wake of The Bee’s report Roman Empire before. complaint or to email Calif., back in May. Roach was sexually abused by a youth pastor many years ago as a in April. He remains un- The issue is “one of fair- [email protected]. teenager at the church, which was formerly First Baptist. der investigation, Scotts- ness,” he said, noting that Decades ago, First Bap- dale police said Thursday. he also vetoed a similar tist was well aware it had Chapman and Austin bill five years earlier. a problem with some FROM PAGE 1A Roach when she lost her served jail and prison “It’s outrageous that predatory adults, but father. The youth pastor terms of 300 days and 28 someone who was sexually “failed to implement rea- had sex with her for 2 1/2 years, respectively. assaulted as a child can sonable safeguards” to PASTOR years, starting when he Roach filed the lawsuit actually run out of time to prevent Tebbutt from was 27 and she was 15. He in late May in San Francis- seek justice before they’re inducing the girl into in his charge at First boy while working as a then went on to a 30-year co, where some offenses ready to come forward and sexual encounters, Baptist in the 1970s, and youth counselor at First youth ministry with allegedly occurred. Cross- tell their story,” Assem- Roach’s lawsuit says. that two male volunteers, Baptist’s summer camp churches and church Point lead pastor Matt blywoman Lorena Gon- It seeks a civil remedy Bob Chapman and George near Pinecrest in 1981. He schools in Oregon and Whiteford sent a letter in zalez Fletcher, D-San Die- based on California insur- Austin, separately mo- later worked with youth at Missouri. His last-known August to members ac- go, said in a release when ance law requiring that lested several boys they another Modesto church employer, International knowledging Bee cov- she introduced the bill in victims be warned in writ- met and worked with at and drove school buses House of Prayer in Kansas erage. The church’s “jour- February. “We’ve seen in ing of applicable statutes First Baptist in the for a Christian school and City, placed Tebbutt, now ney ... elicits compassion case after case that survi- of limitation. That re- mid-1980s, before Roach for Modesto City Schools, 59, on leave after The for those hurting, confu- vors might need decades quirement should have was victimized. and was convicted in 1985 Bee’s report in February, sion for those who feel before they’re prepared to been triggered when First Since those articles of molesting another 13- and commissioned an broken trust, and even hold their abusers account- Baptist arranged for an- appeared, The Bee deter- year-old boy he met at Big investigation by a third some self-reflection on able. They should have all other youth pastor to meet mined that Dave Alan Valley Grace Community party with expertise in where we are now as a the time they need.” with Roach for a few Lewis was convicted of Church in Modesto. clergy abuse. church,” the letter said. The average age of counseling sessions in molesting a 13-year-old Tebbutt befriended Hughey resigned as An unnamed third party reporting childhood 1989.

FROM PAGE 1A communities that depend that she has implored he said. is always a worry, but on national parks for tour- Trump to reach a deal, Stan Meiburg, a former would be covered, said ist dollars. noting that even tempo- EPA acting deputy admin- Meiburg, noting a massive SHUTDOWN The loss of pay during a rarily cutting off pay- istrator under President coal ash spill in Tennessee 16-day shutdown in 2013 checks would make a Barack Obama and former occurred on Dec. 22, A The Federal Housing other minerals on federal triggered an estimated 2 difference to some em- EPA deputy regional ad- 2008, 10 years to the day Administration would land and waters would be to 4 percent drop in ployees. ministrator for the region that this year’s shutdown experience delays in loan suspended. spending among federal “Perhaps he doesn’t that covers much of the could go into effect. processing and approvals, A Civil litigation, pay- workers, who put off din- understand people need South, has experienced “If life or property is at meaning that people try- ments to victims, and ing out, hiring babysitters their paychecks. Maybe several shutdowns and risk, we would mobilize ing to buy a new home or training for state and local and other expenses, ac- that’s not the life he said they are always un- people and figure out the refinance a FHA-insured law enforcement would be cording to a 2014 Stanford leads,” Pelosi said. settling. finances later,” Meiburg mortgage would be put on frozen. University study. Trump, in a video re- “It’s extraordinarily said. “But to say it’s dis- standby. A Payments to public The National Park Serv- leased on Twitter late disruptive while it’s hap- ruptive is a massive un- A Cities, counties, and housing agencies would ice that year turned away Thursday, accused Demo- pening, and then when derstatement.” states would not be able be delayed, potentially millions to more than 400 crats of being “absolute you come back it takes a Facing a shutdown in move forward with Com- delaying maintenance and parks and national monu- hypocrites,” noting that few weeks to dig out from January, the agency said it munity Development emergency repairs. ments and estimated that they’ve long backed fenc- everything,” he said. would use a particular Block Grant projects. Such There could be costs the shutdown led to more es, barriers and other Much of the agency’s stream funding to stay projects are crucial to associated with the lack of than $500 million in lost security measures at the work would potentially open, but that there would urban revival and upkeep. wages, particularly for visitor spending nation- border. come to a halt, including be “restrictions on some A Lease sales and per- small businesses that rely wide. “They only don’t want cleanup at toxic waste things such as travel.” mits for oil, gas, coal and on federal workers or Pelosi said Thursday to do it because of me,” sites. Emergency response