Preface
I am publishing this small section from my unfinished book knowing how fiercely C.J. Mahaney, Mark Prater, and Sovereign Grace Churches, Inc. are seeking to defame Rachael Denhollander like they have all the victims of abuse in the Seconded Amended Complaint.
I have already written two articles about Denhollander’s comments and provided extensive proofs, evidence and vital information to support her claims.
Rachael Denhollander Speaks Out Against C.J. Mahaney in Interview with Christianity Today – Predictably, Sovereign Grace Condemns Her “False Accusations”
Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Denhollander Speaks Out Again in Response to Condemnation by Sovereign Grace Churches, Inc. – I’ve Added Background Commentary
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 4:16 PM
In what follows, I’ve added explanatory notes in brackets [ ] and underlining for emphasis.
Introduction
“Let me be clear about this: I have never conspired to protect a child predator, and I also deny all the claims made against me in the civil suit.” -- C.J. Mahaney
These words were posted by C.J. Mahaney on his church website a week after incriminating testimony was given at the Nathaniel Morales trial by his brother-in-law, Grant Layman and several other witnesses. Mahaney’s emphatic and universal denial constitutes his most horrific lie in the conspiracy to cover up the sexual abuse of children. It is disproven by the evidence that follows.
Listen carefully to these remarks by Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Hall in her opening statement at the first trial of Nathaniel Morales when he was found guilty on all five counts of child sex abuse and sex offense against Sam Bates, Jeremy Cook, and Brian Wolohan.
Note: I think audio recordings for both of the Morales trials (case #121884C and #123156C) can still be order here. My transcriptions are precise and always presented in proper context.
Jessica Hall
Assistant State’s Attorney
Opening Statement
Monday, May 12, 2014
2:42:45-2:43:23 PM
“And Sam ultimately did not keep quiet. He did unfortunately wait until he was an adult and when he told people about the abuse as an adult he went to the church [in 1993] and he brought the abuse forward to the church and laid it on the doorstep and asked them to do something about it. He assumed the church would do the right thing. That they would report the abuse to the authorities. That they would go to the police so that Mr. Morales would be held accountable for his actions. But the church did not. You will hear from witnesses in the church and from Mr. Bates himself that the church covered it up. The church protected Mr. Morales.”
2:46:15-2:46:53 PM
"Jeremy didn’t know that this was happening to Sam. He didn’t know there were other people he could turn to about the abuse and so he kept it quiet, he kept it to himself until he was 21 years old. And when he was 21 he did disclose the abuse and he told Sam Bates and he thought that Sam was going to take the abuse to the church and that the church would deal appropriately with Mr. Morales. Jeremy will tell that always he wanted to do something about the abuse and he always wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t happen to anyone else but he thought going to the church authorities would be sufficient. He had no idea that the church would cover up for Mr. Morales. He had no idea that the church would protect a man who molested children.”
2:48:48-2:49:28 PM
“The abuse continued for years and Brian was not able to stop it. Brian did decide to disclose the abuse in 1991. He disclosed to an adult friend named Bob Rosencrantz and Bob Rosencrantz told Brian’s father about it. You will hear during the course of this trial from Brian’s father, his name is Richard Wolohan. Richard Wolohan will tell that he himself at the time was deeply involved in Covenant Life Church. He was employed by the church in some fashion as an accountant and he was very involved in the church leadership. He will tell you that he spoke to the church leaders [in 1992] when his son told him that he was being sexually abused.”
2:50:05-2:50:35 PM
“And we are here today, ladies and gentlemen, in 2014 that this man sexually molested three boys, Sam, Jeremy and Brian and when the abuse was occurring the boys didn’t tell. And several years after the abuse ended and the abuse was disclosed to church authorities, the church did nothing. They ignored the abuse. The church pretended the abuse didn’t happen. They accepted the defendant’s apology and went on with their lives. They ignored the fact that heinous crimes had been committed.”
The disclosures referenced above were made in 1992 and 1993. C.J. Mahaney was the senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. Take note of these phrases by Assistant States Attorney (ASA) Hall.
“The church covered it up. The church protected Mr. Morales. … The church would cover up for Mr. Morales. … The church would protect a man who molested children. … The church did nothing. … They ignored the fact that heinous crimes had been committed.”
One of Morales’ victims wrote me,
“I can share that the DA [District Attorney] I am working with has become very familiar with SGM/CLC and its intricacies, as well as the machinations of C.J., et al.”
When Hall said, “the church would protect a man who molested children,” I believe she had Mahaney primarily in mind and had the evidence to prove he was lying when he wrote “I have never conspired to protect a child predator.” More on this later.
The Initial Strategy of Defense Attorney Alan Drew
Alan Drew, the Public Defender assigned to Morales, followed and immediately attacked ASA Hall’s assertion that there was cover up or conspiracy in his opening statement. He also attacked the credibility of the victims while defending the Covenant Life pastors.
Alan Drew
Defense Attorney for Nate Morales
Opening Statement
Monday, May 12, 2014
2:53:36-2:54:06 PM
“Yet in this case, Mr. Bates according to Ms. Hall lived with this for years, sexually being abused, all sorts of sexual acts being perpetrated on him and yet not one single time during that period of time, the evidence will show, it is going to come out in this case, did Mr. Bates ever come forward. Certainly if Mr. Bates had come forward something would have been done.”
2:54:07-2:54:53 PM
“Ms. Hall says there was somewhat of a conspiracy that was a foot in this particular case and the evidence will show that this conspiracy was a foot because the church covered it up. Now I ask you to listen to what sort of evidence is going to be presented in this case that the church covered up anything at all because as the Court has told you in its initial instructions it is what the evidence shows. Find one person from anytime that these statements came forward in the church who declined to disclose any of this information. Listen to the evidence. Listen to the evidence very carefully.”
2:54:54-2:55:27 PM
“One time maybe the boy isn’t going to disclose, two times maybe the boy isn’t going to disclose, but from 1983 to the time that Mr. Morales was charged [October 5, 2012] in this case he [Sam Bates] never came forward one time. Think about it. Think about it. Because what you are going to do as you listen to the evidence is that you are going to find, essentially, we are going to have the word of one, two, three young men and that’s it. There’s nothing that is going to be presented to you to corroborate so listen to the evidence very carefully.”
2:55:43-2:55:57 PM
“There won’t be one single bit of evidence that will come forward that any person who worked at those schools or worked at that church every heard anything about these allegations.”
Alan Drew damned himself in his opening statement. I sat in the courtroom stunned at his reckless and audacious arguments. His defense strategy was three pronged. First, argue the victims were not credible. Second, assert no one else knew about Morales’ sexual abuse of boys. Third, convince the jurors the Covenant Life pastors would have disclosed the abuse to law enforcement if they knew about it. All of his arguments were quickly shredded by the prosecutors and their witnesses.
Defense Attorney Alan Drew Radically Changed His Strategy on Day 3
The first trial of Morales took place over a four-day period. It started on Monday, May 12 and ended on Thursday, May 15 in 2014. By Wednesday, Alan Drew was forced to completely reverse course because all his opening arguments were obliterated. The victims were shown to be credible. Other people testified to their knowledge of Morales’ abuse. Grant Layman, a Covenant Life pastor, told the jurors he covered up the abuse and other pastors who knew failed to report the abuse.
The legal opposite of protecting a child predator is reporting a child predator to law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS). C.J. Mahaney and his staff had a legal liability to report suspected child abusers per Section 5-705 of the 1987 Family Law Article. The same was true for Joshua Harris and his staff after he replaced Mahaney as senior pastor in September 2004. No clergy exemption applied in most of the cases brought to their attention. In Maryland, the law is simple to understand. Everyone is required to report.
“A person in this State…who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Lars Liebeler was retained by CLC as their lawyer and asked to do an “independent” investigation regarding the conspiracy to commit and cover-up the sexual abuse of children. The investigation took place from July 2013 to November 2014. Liebeler pointed this out to Covenant Life Church at its Members’ Meeting on October 12, 2104. He said,
“The Maryland Child Abuse and Neglect Statute was enacted in 1987. Under the law all persons are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse including child sex abuse. And under the law, all means all. It means teachers, coaches, bus drivers, parents, neighbors, it means everyone, everyone in this room.”
Furthermore, when two or more people agree not to report a suspected or known child abuser that constitutes a criminal conspiracy. Layman was not the only pastor who knew about Nate Morales and yet these pastors decided not to report him. As a result, Morales went on to abuse boys in other parts of the United States over the next 20 years.
At this point in the trial, Drew abandoned his original strategy of proving there was no conspiracy because that argument was demolished by the State during the first two days. Instead, he reversed course on day three and attempted to prove there was a conspiracy of sorts. He tried to introduce the hypothetical notion that Layman and the Covenant Life pastoral team investigated Morales but decided he was innocent and that is why they didn’t follow the law and report him to law enforcement. He was grasping for straws! Drew sought to present this inference to the jury. The Judge ruled against him and did not allow him to introduce the faulty notion.
Bench Conference
Judge McGann, Alan Drew, Amanda Michalski, Jessica Hall
Wednesday, May 14, 2013
9:43:06-9:44:17 AM
Michalski: “I just question if that [the legal obligation to report] was actually in effect back in that time frame [1992].”
Drew: “It was adopted as I read it this morning quickly in 1987. The allegations [of sexual abuse by Morales] basically start in 1988 by the testimony that has been produced in the case.”
Judge: “What’s the relevance of that?”
Drew: “Well, we have a lot of people who get up here in terms of Grant Layman in particular, who never tells anybody; he has a duty to disclose, he admitted he has a duty to disclose, and even with the legal obligation he didn’t disclose.”
Judge: “Okay, let’s assume they all had a legal obligation and they didn’t, what is the relevance? In other words, are you impeaching their credibility by doing that? I don’t think so. Are you making them look bad in the sense that they should have done something they didn’t? Yea. But that is not relevant to guilt or not guilty [in relation to Morales].”
Drew: “I think it is relevant in terms of the disclosure [of sexual abuse] being made and them not taking any action on the disclosure and there is an inference that they concluded nothing had happen.”
Grant Layman’s Incriminating Testimony About Not Reporting Morales’ Crimes
Members of the Covenant Life pastoral team in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 2007 had reason to suspect and know Nate Morales was a serial child molester and yet they did not report him. Listen to the sworn testimony of Grant Layman, C.J. Mahaney’s brother-in-law, at the first trial. He was direct examined by Assistant State’s Attorney Amanda Michalski and cross examined by Defense Counsel Alan Drew. This part of his sworn testimony dealt with his knowledge of abuse in 1993 and 2007.
Grant Layman
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
1:51:32-1:52:02 PM
Michalski: “And without telling us what anyone said, did there come a point in time when you were made aware of the Defendant’s sexual abuse of some of the youth at your church?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “Okay. And who was it who originally contacted the church?”
Layman: “In the very beginning?”
Michalski: “Yes.”
Layman: “I believe Sam’s parents [Scott & Charrie Bates], along with Sam, came and spoke with a pastor [Gary Ricucci].”
1:52:02-1:53:19 PM
Michalski: “Okay. And when was it that they [Scott, Charrie, & Sam Bates] approached the church about that initial contact of the Defendant’s abuse?”
Layman: “Based on my interaction with Sam, I believe it was some time in the early 90s.” [1993]
Michalski: “Okay. And as a result of that did you make a report of any kind to the police?”
Layman: “I did not.”
Michalski: “Do you know if your congregation at that time made a report to the police?”
Layman: “I don’t believe so.”
Michalski: “Okay. And did there also come a point in time where you were made aware of the abuse of another young person by the name of Brian Wolohan?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “And how long after you were informed of the abuse of Samuel Bates, did you learn of the abuse of Brian Wolohan?”
Layman: “I believe it was probably within a year or so.” [late 1993]
Michalski: “And at that point in time, did you personally make a report to any police department or police organization?”
Layman: “No.”
Michalski: “And to your knowledge, did anybody in your congregation at that time report?”
Layman: “Not to my knowledge.”
1:54:43-1:55:02 PM
Michalski: “And when was the next time that you had personal contact with Defendant, Nathan Morales?”
Layman: “In 2007.”
Michalski: “Okay. And how did that contact come about? What initiated it?”
Layman: “I believe Sam Bates’ father, Scott, contacted someone on our pastoral team.”
1:55:35-1:55:52 PM
Michalski: “What happen next?”
Layman: “The pastoral team spoke about it and agreed to try to reach out and make contact with Nate Morales and they asked me if I would make that contact.”
Michalski: “And what was your role at that time?”
Layman: “I was a pastor.”
[Layman plays down his position. He and Kenneth Maresco were high ranking executive pastors in a mega-church. Joshua Harris was the senior pastor.]
2:04:53-2:06:26 PM
Michalski: “Mr. Layman, did there come a point in time where you sent an email to the Defendant in 2007 as a result of that conversation with the Bates where you said that a father [Scott Bates] in the church had come forward to you and as a result you wanted to contact Mr. Morales to ask him if he had made his church [in Las Vegas, Nevada] aware of those circumstances with which he left the church?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “Okay. After you sent that email to Mr. Morales, what if anything was his response?”
Layman: “I believe in the email I was inquiring if he would be willing to have a phone conversation. He indicated he would.”
Michalski: “And did there in fact come a time when you had a phone conversation with the Defendant as a result of that?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “And how soon after you sent the email telling him that you wanted to know if he told the pastors in his church [Vegas Valley Christian Church] about why he left your church, did you speak by phone?”
Layman: “I don’t recall. I am assuming it was within a week or two.”
Michalski: “And did you in fact, did you speak with him over the phone?”
Layman: “I did.”
Michalski: “And did there come a point in time where you documented that conversation in an email?”
Layman: “I did.”
Michalski: “And who did you send that email to?”
Layman: “Scott Bates.”
Michalski: “And do you recall the date of that email where you documented your conversation with the Defendant?”
Layman: “Maybe August 31.”
Michalski: “Of 2007.”
Layman: “Yes.”
2:06:59-2:07:25 PM
Michalski: “And did you ask him another question, a specific question about whether or not he’d ever followed up with the Bates or Wolohan family to ask for their forgiveness and seek reconciliation?”
Layman: “I did.”
Michalski: “And what did he say in response, in regards to any [sexual] abuses that had been committed?”
Layman: “He acknowledged abuse but could not remember any details.
2:07:49-2:08:19 PM
Michalski: “And what did you do after you spoke with the Defendant in regards to that email if anything?”
Layman: “I reported back to the pastoral team about the conversation and I sent that email to Scott Bates.”
Michalski: “And at that point in time when you received those statements from the Defendant, did you report it to the police at that time?”
Layman: “No.”
Michalski: “Okay. And to your knowledge did anybody on your pastoral team or anybody in the congregation report the matter to the police?”
Layman: “Not to my knowledge.”
Three times in this exchange, Michalski asked Layman if he reported the allegations of sexual abuse in 1993 or the confession of sexual abuse in 2007 to the police. Three times he answered no. Three times in this exchange, Michalski asked Layman if anyone in the church including the pastors reported the allegations of abuse or the confession of abuse to the police. Once he said, “I don’t believe so.” Twice, he answered, “Not to my knowledge.”
Of course, Layman would have been told if anyone on the pastoral team had reported Morales to the police. Furthermore, the police would have done an investigation and interviewed Layman in response to any reporting since he was a central figure.
What we have here are clear cut statements by Layman that no one on the 1993 and 2007 pastoral teams ever contacted law enforcement even though they had the testimony of victims in 1993 and the confession of sexual abuse by Morales himself in 2007. C.J. Mahaney led the pastoral team in 1993 and he oversaw the pastoral team in 2007. He was also discipling Joshua Harris.
After Michalski finished, Layman was cross examined by Morales’ lawyer, Alan Drew. Keep in mind what Drew said Monday afternoon on Day 1 in his opening statement about no evidence of a conspiracy.
“Now I ask you to listen to what sort of evidence is going to be presented in this case that the church covered up anything at all because as the Court has told you in its initial instructions it is what the evidence shows. Find one person from anytime that these statements came forward in the church who declined to disclose any of this information. Listen to the evidence. Listen to the evidence very carefully.”
By Tuesday afternoon on Day 2, Drew knew his case had been blown to smithereens. He had no defense against the avalanche of evidence presented by the State and he knew there had been a cover up by pastors at Covenant Life Church. He was angry and forced Layman to confess to a cover up under oath. It was a dramatic turn of events that took place in a period of 24 hours. I was stunned as a courtroom observer.
Grant Layman
Cross Examination by Defense Counsel
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:12:39-2:13:03 PM
Drew: “And was part of your responsibilities, doing those things that you just mentioned, that is to lead, to encourage, Bible studies, service in the community; did you have a responsibility that if you became aware of incidences of child abuse that you had a responsibility to either bring it to the people who are in charge of the church [i.e., C.J. Mahaney] or to the police?”
Layman: “Yes.”
2:15:02-2:16:04 PM
Drew: “Okay. Do you know whether or not Sam and his family went to the pastoral team?”
Layman: “I believe they did.”
Drew: “Okay. And are you aware as to whether or not any member of the pastoral team at any time contacted the police concerning allegations of sexual abuse?”
Layman: “I am not aware of that.”
Drew: “And when was that again?”
Layman: “I believe it would have been the early 90s.”
Drew: “And when did you first become aware of it?”
Layman: “Sometime after that. I don’t know exactly when but I think I would have been encouraged to meet with Sam and the other man [Brian Wolohan] at that point in time to just provide encouragement and support.”
2:16:36-2:17:02 PM
Drew: “And from back in the early 90s until you were contacted by Detective Magee of the Montgomery County Police Department [on January 7, 2010], did you ever come forward and tell any member of the Montgomery County Police Department about allegations of sexual abuse by Nate Morales at your church?”
Layman: “No.”
2:20:02-2:20:54 PM
Drew: “So you knew about Sam Bates and allegations of being sexually abused. Correct?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Drew: “And you knew about Brian Wolohan being sexual abused. Correct?”
Layman: “I knew there was abuse. I didn’t know details.”
Drew: “And you had no duty as a pastor, or one of the pastors at that church, to report that to the police department? Is that what you are telling me?
Layman: “I am telling you that there were plenty of people involved and I had no.” [Drew interrupts]
Drew: “I am asking about you! I am asking about you!”
Layman: “Right. I did not.”
Drew: “Did you have a responsibility as a pastor, when you become aware of sexual child abuse, did you have a responsibility to report that to the police department? That is a yes or no!”
Layman: “I believe so.”
Drew: “And you didn’t do it.”
Layman: “No sir.”
Twice in this exchange, Drew asked Layman if he had a legal obligation to report allegations of sexual child abuse to the police. Both times Layman answered affirmatively. Three times in this exchange, Drew asked Layman if he followed through on his legal obligation to report to the police. Each time he said no.
The testimony of Grant Layman could not be clearer! NO ONE on the Covenant Life pastoral team EVER contacted the police regarding Morales whom they knew to be a serial predatory child sex abuser! And let me hasten to say, if Layman knew he had a legal obligation to report in 1993, so did the rest of the pastors! He was the second youngest pastor on the Covenant Life staff that year.
Not reporting a suspected or known child abuser is extremely serious because it is extremely dangerous! Sex abusers don’t have one or two victims. Typically, they have scores of victims. Nate Morales is your typical sex abuser. He abused children for 30 years and didn’t stop until he was arrested. If we don’t report child abusers to law enforcement, we guarantee other children will be molested. That is why the State of Maryland requires all citizens to report. Parents included.
Layman knew he was breaking the law but did so anyway. That is frightening. He was also willing to disobey the clear teaching of Scripture in Romans 13:1-5 and violate his conscience. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17; cf. Luke 12:47-48). In so doing, he chose to protect a child predator. Nothing is more contrary to the ministry of a biblical shepherd. As a result, Layman set lose a known wolf to devour more innocent lambs because he was not willing to obey the law, Scripture or the dictates of his own conscience.
Grant Layman Claimed He Was Informed about the Abuse of Sam Bates & Brian Wolohan from Other Covenant Life Pastors
Layman claimed he was “made aware of” and “learn[ed] of the abuse” of Brian Wolohan “because someone communicated” it to him. He also stated he was “informed of the abuse of Samuel Bates.”
1:51:32-1:52:02 PM
Michalski: “And without telling us what anyone said, did there come a point in time [1993] when you were made aware of the Defendant’s sexual abuse of some of the youth at your church?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “Okay. And who was it who originally contacted the church?”
Layman: “In the very beginning?”
Michalski: “Yes.”
Layman: “I believe Sam’s parents [Scott & Charrie Bates], along with Sam, came and spoke with a pastor [Gary Ricucci].”
According to Lars Liebeler, the CLC lawyer who did an “independent investigation,” the Bates first met with Gary Ricucci. I will quote Liebeler later. Ricucci, like Layman, is a brother-in-law to Mahaney. Ricucci married Mahaney’s sister, Betsy.
1:52:41-1:53:04 PM
Michalski: “Okay. And did there also come a point in time where you were made aware of the abuse of another young person by the name of Brian Wolohan?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “And how long after you were informed of the abuse of Samuel Bates, did you learn of the abuse of Brian Wolohan?”
Layman: “I believe it was probably within a year or so.”
2:19:29-2:19:40 PM
Drew: “Did Brian tell you that he had been sexually abused?”
Layman: “I don’t know. I assumed that going into that meeting.”
Drew: “You assumed that because someone communicated that to you?”
Layman: “Yes.”
The obvious question is which pastor or pastors told Layman about the abuse of Sam Bates and Brian Wolohan. It had to be C.J. Mahaney, Gary Ricucci, Robin Boisvert, John Loftness, Kenneth Maresco or some combination. Lars Liebeler could easily have included this vital information in his oral report to Covenant Life Church on October 12 and 26, 2014 provided Grant Layman was cooperating with his investigation. In other words, all Liebeler needed to do was ask Layman who “informed [him] of the abuse of Samuel Bates” and who he “learn[ed] of the abuse of Brian Wolohan?” Liebeler either withheld this information from CLC or Layman refused to tell him.
Grant Layman Claimed He Was Asked to Provide Support & Encouragement to Sam Bates & Brian Wolohan
Layman also claimed he was “asked” to provide “encouragement and support” to Sam Bates and Brian Wolohan in 1993. Three times he said he was simply following directions in meeting with them.
2:15:38-2:16:04 PM
Drew: “And when did you first become aware of it? …”
Layman: “Sometime after that [i.e., after the Bates met with Gary Ricucci]. I don’t know exactly when but I think I would have been encouraged to meet with Sam and the other man [Brian Wolohan] at that point in time to just provide encouragement and support.”
2:18:05-2:18:13 PM
Drew: “Why did he [Brian Wolohan] come to you?”
Layman: “As I said, I believe I was asked to meet with him to provide encouragement and support.”
2:18:46 -2:19:12 PM
Drew: “Did he [Brian Wolohan] tell you that he had been through a lot related to sexual child abuse?”
Layman: “I don’t recall that.”
Drew: “Isn’t that something you would remember as a pastor of the church?”
Layman: “Well, this conversation took place 25 years ago and I don’t believe there were any details communicated to me. I was simply asked to meet with him and provide some support.”
The obvious question is which pastor or pastors “asked” and “encouraged” Layman to carry out this highly confidential assignment. It had to be a superior and in all likelihood, it was Mahaney or Ricucci. It was not Boisvert according to Executive Pastor Mark Mitchell who told CLC the following on October 12, 2104.
“Grant Layman met once with the victim [Brian Wolohan] that Robin [Boisvert] was aware of for pastoral care but neither Grant nor Robin were aware of the information each other had.”
And it is unlikely it was Loftness or Maresco since they were relatively new to the staff and did not hold senior positions.
Once again, this important information was readily available to Lars Liebeler provided Layman was cooperating with his investigation. If Liebeler knew which pastor or pastors gave Layman the assignment of meeting with Sam Bates and Brian Wolohan, he withheld it from CLC.
Plenty of People Were Involved in 1993 According to Grant Layman
Under cross examination, Layman told Alan Drew “plenty of people” were involved in how to handle the sexual abuse of boys by Morales.
2:20:02-2:20:35 PM
Drew: “So you knew about Sam Bates and allegations of being sexually abused. Correct?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Drew: “And you knew about Brian Wolohan being sexual abused. Correct?”
Layman: “I knew there was abuse. I didn’t know details.”
Drew: “And you had no duty as a pastor, or one of the pastors at that church, to report that to the police department? Is that what you are telling me?
Layman: “I am telling you that there were plenty of people involved.”
Layman was interrupted by Drew at this point before he finished his thought. Nevertheless, he made clear there were “plenty of people involved” (not just aware) in how to handle the sexual abuse of boys by Morales in Covenant Life Church.
The pastoral staff was comprised of seven men in 1993 according to my records.
We know Layman, Ricucci, Boisvert and Chris Glass knew about Morales. I will come to Glass shortly. It is highly probable so did Loftness and Maresco and I have no doubt Mahaney knew though he has denied through his lawyer ever hearing anything about Morales abusing anyone. This too is a preposterous lie.
Layman acknowledged he had a legal responsibility as a pastor to report the sexual abuse of minors to the police department. He didn’t claim any kind of clergy penitent privilege or First Amendment right as an excuse or defense. He also pointed out he was told about the sexual abuse and thereby implied that those with direct knowledge had a greater responsibility to report Morales’ crimes. In that context, he said “plenty of people” were “involved.”
Liebeler was familiar with this comment by Layman having listened to his testimony from the Morales’ trial. As a part of his investigation, did he ask Layman to catalogue all the people that were involved and did not report? And if so, did Layman respond to his request? If not, why? Further, did that group include CLC lawyer Chip Grange and small group leaders or other church members?
We don’t know the answers to these questions because Liebeler never covered this ground with Covenant Life Church in his oral reports. That is incomprehensible. The most basic investigation would have secured this crucial information from Layman, the pastors, and other sources and reported it to CLC. I think Liebeler knew who was involved but intentionally left it out of his findings because that information was incriminating and therefore could not be shared by him as their lawyer. He did not do an “independent” investigation as claimed.
This much we know for certain, a lot people besides Grant Layman were involved and/or knew about Morales’ abuse of boys and none of them reported him to law enforcement. We also know Layman realized he had a legal obligation to report but intentionally broke the law. Why? In all probability because he was following Mahaney’s unwritten policy of not reporting known or suspected child abusers to law enforcement. The evidence strongly suggests a criminal conspiracy among CLC pastors in 1993. That simply means they agreed together not to report Morales heinous crimes but instead covered them up. Once again, ASA Jessica Hall.
“The church covered it up. The church protected Mr. Morales. … The church would cover up for Mr. Morales. … The church would protect a man who molested children. … The church did nothing. … They ignored the fact that heinous crimes had been committed.”
Layman’s comment about plenty of people being involved also provides strong evidence that Mahaney knew about Morales’ abuse of boys. How could Layman have been told about the abuse of two victims but not Mahaney who was the senior pastor? How could Layman have been told to “provide encouragement and support” and Mahaney be completely left out of the pastoral process? How could “plenty of people” be involved and Mahaney know absolutely nothing about it?
In his report to CLC, Liebeler never revealed whether or not he asked Layman if Mahaney knew about Morales’ abuse of boys or was involved in providing direction to him or other pastors. Those questions are of greatest importance if you are investigating an alleged conspiracy surrounding Mahaney. It is utterly unacceptable for this not to have been included in his reports. I think the omission was intentional.
Lars Liebeler should have nailed down the facts regarding who, how and when Layman knew plenty of people were involved. Clearly, it was not confined to Gary Ricucci and Robin Boisvert. Those facts should have been reported to CLC. Instead, Liebeler said nothing to CLC about Layman’s assertion or any discovery of facts related to it.
Grant Layman’s & Chris Glass’ Knowledge of Morales’ Abuse of Boys from Covenant Life Church Went Back to 1991 (not 1993)
The testimony given above by Layman concerned events in 1993. When he finished the State called Rachael Bates-Paci to the stand as the next witness.
Rachael is the married daughter of Scott and Charrie Bates and the sister of Sam Bates and Daniel Bates who were two of Morales’ victims. Based upon the facts in this case, she did more than anyone to expose and hold Morales accountable for his crimes. For example, she acted alone in 1991 amidst opposition at the age of 17. She also pressed the issue again in 2007. She should be honored and credited for her efforts. Here are parts of her sworn testimony.
Rachel Bates-Paci
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 13, 20014
2:26:14-2:28:14 PM
Hall: “Now I want to direct your attention to specifically 1991. Did there ever come a time when you spoke with the leadership at Covenant Life Church about allegations of sexual abuse?”
Paci: “Yes. The summer of 1991 after school was out.”
Hall: “And who did you speak to in the summer of 1991?”
Paci: Chris Glass and Thurlow Switzer who was our principal of the school [Montgomery County Covenant Academy] and Grant Layman.”
Hall: “Okay. And Chris Glass, what was his role in Covenant Life Church at that time?”
Paci: “He was my pastor. He was the younger, the youth pastor.”
Hall: “And what was Grant Layman’s role in the church at that time?”
Paci: “He was for a little bit older, like I guess for older singles, older meaning probably early 20s versus high school.”
Hall: “Okay. And in 1991 did there ever come a time when you reported these allegations of sexual abuse to the police?”
Paci: “No.”
Hall: “And why not?”
Paci: “Because I was 17 and I probably should have but I didn’t because I was told by my [church] leadership and I kind of gave it over to my pastors and my parents.”
Hall: “Okay. Now I want to direct your attention to 2007. Did there come a time in 2007 when you became aware of Mr. Morales whereabouts?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Hall: “And where was Mr. Morales living at that time?”
Paci: “In Nevada.”
Hall: “In 2007, did it ever come to your attention as to whether he was affiliated with any type of religious institution at that time?”
Paci: “Yea. I google searched him and I found him to be a pastor or assistant pastor at a church in Nevada in Las Vegas. The Vegas Valley [Christian] Church if I recall correctly.”
Hall: “And after you found out that information, did you pass that information onto someone else?”
Paci: “Yea. I passed it to my Dad [Scott Bates] who then spoke to Grant Layman about it.”
##
Rachael Bates-Paci
Cross Examination by Defense Counsel
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:28:41-2:31:10 PM
Drew: “So in 1991, you spoke with the church leadership about allegations of sexual child abuse by Mr. Morales?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Drew: “And can you put it into a season or you really can’t do that?”
Paci: “It was the summer.”
Drew: “Summer?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Drew: “Who did you speak with? Who was the leadership that you spoke with?”
Paci: “Thurlow Switzer, he was the President of the school or principal of the school. And Chris Glass and Grant Layman.”
Drew: “Okay. Thurlow Switzer and his role was Principal?”
Paci: “Principal of the school. President, principal or something to that effect.“
Drew: “Okay and then you also spoke to who?”
Paci: “Grant Layman and Christopher Glass.”
Drew: “Did you speak to those individuals all at once or did you speak with them separately?”
Paci: “I spoke to Christopher Glass and then he went with me to speak with Thurlow Switzer and Grant together.”
Drew: “Okay. And you made the report of what you had heard concerning sexual abuse?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Drew: “Now, did you ever become aware after you made that report that Chris Glass reported these allegations to the Montgomery County Police Department?”
Paci: “No. I wasn’t made aware of that.”
Drew: “Then you went with Mr. Glass to speak with Thurlow Switzer and Grant Layman?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Drew: “About the same topic, sexual child abuse?”
Paci: “Yes.”
Drew: “Okay. Did you ever become aware that Thurlow Switzer notified the Montgomery County Police Department about sexual abuse?”
Paci: “No. No sir.”
Drew: “Okay. Did you inquire at any point of Mr. Switzer?”
Paci: “No. He was my principal. I was 17. I didn’t have that relationship where I could go pester him about that [i.e., about reporting]. And I was basically told by many people [not to report] that I wasn’t the one who was abused so it wasn’t my problem basically.”
Drew: “Who told you since you weren’t abused that it wasn’t your problem?“
Paci: “My parents for one.”
Drew: “Anybody else that you can recall?”
Paci: “No. But that was the gist of it that it didn’t happen to you so – but it weighed heavy on my heart for a really for a long time.”
2:31:54-2:32:00 PM
Drew: “To the best of your knowledge did Grant Layman ever go forward to the police department about any of these allegations?”
Paci: “As far as I know, no. He did not.”
There was nothing unclear or uncertain about her sworn testimony. She remembered the exact time, circumstances and people involved.
Did Grant Layman Perjure Himself Regarding When He First Learned about the Abuse of Many Boys by Morales?
This testimony by Rachael Bates-Paci was serious bad news for Grant Layman. From my perspective, Layman perjured himself in a major way during the first trial. Remember, Paci came after Layman as a witness. He was not forewarned of her testimony. I doubt he knew she was even on the witness list for the prosecution.
Before Paci took the stand, Layman testified under oath that he first “became aware of allegations of child abuse” by Nate Morales “after Sam Bates came with his parents to a member of the pastoral team” in 1993. Paci directly contradicted that statement and testified she told Glass and Layman about Morales’ abuse of her brother, Sam Bates and “many of the boys in the Christian school“ in 1991. Her testimony also agreed with police reports and other legal documents.
Detective Sally Magee
Interview of Rachel Bates-Paci
January 1, 2010
“On January 1, 2010, the writer [Det. Magee] met with Rachel Paci, Bates’ sister. Ms. Paci learned of the sexual abuse of her brother, Samuel Bates, when she was 16-17 years old [in 1989-1990]. The disclosure ‘weighed heavily on’ Ms. Paci. As she was older, many of the boys from school confided to her about Morales. Ms. Paci talked with the Pastor at the church [Chris Glass] and with Grant Layman, one of the leaders in the church, however she didn’t know if any actions were taken. Ms. Paci was enrolled in the last class to graduate from the Montgomery County Covenant Academy [in 1991].
Detective Sally Magee
Application for Statement of Charges
October 5, 2012
“On January 1, 2010, the writer met with Rachel Paci, Samuel Bates’ sister. Ms. Paci learned of her brother’s abuse when she was 16-17 [1989-1990] years old. The information “weighted heavily” on her. As she was older, many of the boys in the Christian school that she attended confided to her about their abuse as well. Ms. Paci brought the matter to the [youth] pastor [Chris Glass] of her church, Covenant of Life, and to one of the leaders [Grant Layman] in the church [in June 1991].
Assistant State’s Attorney Amanda Michalski
Memorandum of Law in Support of State’s Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Sever
Filed March 1, 2013
“Rachel Paci, the daughter of Grace [aka Charrie] and Scott Bates and sister to Samuel and Daniel Bates learned about her brother’s abuse when she was between sixteen and seventeen years of age [in 1989-1990]. Ms. Paci also attended Montgomery County Covenant Academy and when other male friends disclosed their abuse at the hands of the Defendant, she brought her concerns to the [youth] pastor [Chris Glass] at Covenant of Life.” (p. 3)
For clarity sake, here’s a quick review of Layman’s testimony before Paci took the stand.
Grant Layman
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 14, 2014
1:51:32-1:52:00 PM
Michalski: “And without telling us what anyone said, did there come a point in time when you were made aware of the Defendant’s sexual abuse of some of the youth at your church?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “Okay. And who was it who originally contacted the church?”
Layman: “In the very beginning?”
Michalski: “Yes.”
Layman: “I believe Sam’s parents, along with Sam, came and spoke with a pastor [Gary Ricucci in 1993].
1:52:12-1:52:24 PM
Michalski: “Okay. And when was it that they [the Bates] approached the church about that initial contact of the Defendant’s abuse?”
Layman: “Based on my interaction with Sam, I believe it was some time in the early 90s.” [1993]
##
Grant Layman
Cross Examination by Defense Counsel
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:12:39-2:13:26 PM
Drew: “And was part of your responsibilities, doing those things that you just mentioned, that is to lead, to encourage, Bible studies, service in the community; did you have a responsibility that if you became aware of incidences of child abuse that you had a responsibility to either bring it to the people who are in charge of the church or to the police?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Drew: “And you became aware of allegations of child abuse, when was the first time you became of aware of that?”
Layman: “I believe it was in the early 90s after Sam Bates came with his parents to a member of the pastoral team [in 1993].”
This was diametrically opposed to the sworn testimony provided by Paci that she reported “allegations of child sexual abuse” to Layman, Glass and Switzer in the summer of 1991. I have no doubt Laymen knew about the allegations of child sex abuse two years before he was supposedly “made aware of the Defendant’s sexual abuse of some of the youth at your church” “in the very beginning” for “the first time” in 1993.
I don’t believe Layman made an honest mistake through faulty memory or belief that his statement was fact. His meeting with Paci, Glass and Switzer was not the kind of meeting or scenario you ever forget. I believe Layman also perjured himself in several other respects during the Morales trial. I passed my observations on to the appropriate people but law enforcement decided not to prosecute him. It wasn’t because they lacked evidence.
It should also be noted that Paci’s reporting of abuse was confirmed by Boisvert when he was interviewed by detectives before Morales was arrested. More shortly. Her meeting with Switzer, that included Layman and Glass, was also confirmed by her father, Scott Bates, in reports filed by detectives.
Det. Sally Magee, Incident – Offense Report, December 15, 2009
"On 12-02-2009, the writer and Det. R. Toner met with Bates’ parents, Scott Bates and Grace [Charrie] Bates. Scott confirmed his son’s [Sam’s] disclosure of abuse. … Scott lamented that the incident had a profound effect on his family and he didn’t handle the situation as well then, as he might handle it today. Scott stated his daughter, Rachel Paci, was aware of more of the details. Some of the other victims confided to her about what happened. His daughter was more active in coming forward and spoke with the head of the Christian school [Thurlow Switzer]. He believes some incidents may have occurred at the school.”
Layman denied to Lars Liebeler in a private conversation that he ever talked with or met with Paci in 1991. Paci, on the other hand, described in detail for the Judge and jury her meeting with Glass, Layman and Switzer while under oath. She did the same when cross examined by the defense. No one questioned her integrity or challenged her recollections.
Regardless, Liebeler concluded neither Layman nor Paci were lying – they just had memory problems. For Paci, that means she created vivid and detailed memories of events that never happened and then swore under oath they were true when they were only delusions. That is an impossibility! Liebeler told CLC the following in his report. More later.
“And so I am really reluctant to say that one person is a liar, one person is telling the truth. … I think that people can have difficulty with remembering certain items in their life and it doesn’t mean that they are lying.” (Oct. 26, 2014)
I talked at length with Paci about her account subsequent to the trial. She had no doubt about her recollections and went into more detail with me than she covered in court. She believes Layman lied to Liebeler. If not for Paci’s efforts, Morales would never have been arrested, tried or sentenced. Like her father said, she “was more active in coming forward” even at the age of 17.
Furthermore, it is inconceivable that Rachael Bates-Paci “spoke to Christopher Glass and then he went with me to speak with Thurlow Switzer and Grant together” without the full knowledge of C.J. Mahaney. Glass and Layman would never undertake such a meeting without getting Mahaney’s input in advance and they would have provided Mahaney a complete report after the meeting. Mahaney was also a friend of Switzer even though he was not part of CLC or SGM.
Mahaney’s involvement is further confirmed by Layman’s affirmatively answer to Alan Drew’s question about reporting incidences of child abuse to those in charge. That is to Mahaney. He was the one in charge. No one else.
Drew: “Did you have a responsibility that if you became aware of incidences of child abuse that you had a responsibility to … bring it to the people who are in charge of the church.”
Layman: “Yes.”
Layman reported directly to Mahaney and had immediate access to him 24/7. Based on the evidence, there is every reason to believe Mahaney, Layman, Glass, and Switzer conspired not to report the sexual abuse of “many boys” to law enforcement in 1991.
Nathaniel Morales Forced Out of Covenant Life Church According to Assistant State’s Attorney Michalski
The meeting described above took place in June 1991. The following month, Morales moved out of the Wolohan home and went to North Carolina according to Dick Wolohan.
Richard (“Dick”) Wolohan
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
11:31:16-11:33:07 AM
D. Wolohan: “He lived with us for about 7 months between October of 1989 and May of 1990. … Then he left for Germantown [Maryland in June 1990 to live with Tom Hartley] for several months. Then came back [in March 1991] for 5 more months to live with us. … He moved out … in July 91 and went to North Carolina and basically that was the end of our relationship.”
ASA Michalski also cited an important event that occurred in 1991. Morales was forced to leave Covenant Life Church.
Amanda Michalski
Assistant State’s Attorney
State’s Closing Argument
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
11:35:43-11:36:00 AM
“We know that Sam made his initial disclosure in the 1990s [1993] from Mr. Layman’s testimony. You [the jury] know that Brian made his disclosure approximately a year after, and you know that in 1991 the Defendant was forced to leave the congregation.
In actuality, the jury never heard testimony about Morales being “forced to leave the congregation.” That literal fact did not come out during the trial. It appears ASA Michalski was connecting the dots for the jury in her closing argument. She wanted the jury to understand Morales was removed from the church in July 1991 as a result of the meeting between Layman, Glass, Switzer and Paci in June 1991.
This much is certain. Paci met with Glass, Layman and Switzer in June 1991. She told them about the abuse of specific friends that had confided in her. She asked these leaders to stop Morales. The very next month, Morales moved out of the Wolohan house and out of Maryland for North Carolina. Michalski’s claimed he was forced to leave the church and in all probability by Mahaney.
Grant Layman, Robin Boisvert & Dick Wolohan Confront Nathaniel Morales in the Spring of 1992
Dick Wolohan and his family moved from Chicago in 1983 to be a part of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. In Chicago, he worked for Sears & Roebuck Company as its comptroller. He set aside that impressive position so he could be part of CLC and SGM. For the next 14 years, he served CLC and then SGM as its comptroller. I worked closely with Dick. He did an exceptional job.
Dick used to do informal audits for us in the churches. He’d visit a church and review its legal and financial policies and procedures. Typically, many things needed attention. He provided a great service. This came to an abrupt end because Dick’s wife Marsha voiced concerns for Mahaney. Mahaney told Dick he was grounded from traveling until he got “control” of his wife. Dick and Marsha left CLC/SGM around 1997 having experienced Mahaney’s rejection when they respectfully raised concerns for his character and leadership.
In the spring of 1992, Dick learned from Bob Rosencrantz that his son Brian had been abused by Nathaniel Morales. He contacted Grant Layman and Layman set up a meeting with Morales in a park behind the Wolohan house. Robin Boisvert, another CLC pastor, accompanied Layman and Dick Wolohan.
Here’s the substantiating testimony from the trial starting with ASA Jessica Hall’s opening statement.
Jessica Hall
Assistant State’s Attorney
Opening Statement
Monday, May 12, 2014
2:48:48-2:50:04 PM
“The abuse continued for years and Brian [Wolohan] was not able to stop it. Brian did decide to disclose the abuse in 1991 [more precisely in late 1991 or early 1992 according to Brian]. He disclosed to an adult friend named Bob Rosencrantz and Bob Rosencrantz told Brian’s father about it. You will hear while this trial from Brian’s father, his name is Richard Wolohan. Richard Wolohan will tell that he himself at the time was deeply involved in Covenant Life Church. He was employed by the church in some fashion as an accountant and he was very involved in the church leadership. He will tell you that he spoke to the church leaders [Grant Layman & Robin Boisvert in the spring of 1992] when his son told him that he was being sexually abused and he spoke to the Defendant [Morales] and that shortly afterwards in 1992 the Defendant was sent to attend a program in Michigan called Teen Challenge and that was a program designed to address addiction issues. When the Defendant was at this program, Richard Wolohan wanted to go to Michigan to confront him about the sexual abuse of Brian. And so he did. He drove to Michigan [with his oldest son Kevin in the summer of 1992] and you’ll hear that he confronted Mr. Morales about the abuse and that in Michigan Mr. Morales confessed to sexually abusing Brian.”
##
Richard (“Dick”) Wolohan
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
11:33:08-11:33:44 AM
Michalski: “And did there come a point in time, without telling us what was said, did there come a point in time when you were contacted by a man named Bob Rosencrantz about the Defendant abusing your son [Brian].”
D. Wolohan: “Yes.”
Michalski: “And when was that?”
D. Wolohan: “That would be in the spring of 1992.”
Michalski: “And as a result of that what did you do, if anything, in regards to your church, Covenant Life Church?”
D. Wolohan: “I approached the church. I don’t recall who I talked to [it was Grant Layman according to police reports] but because the church was a big part of our life that was the first place to go to find out what was going on.”
11:34:23-11:34:51 AM
Michalski: “Did there come a point in time when you traveled to Michigan to meet with the Defendant at a location by the name of Teen Challenge?”
D. Wolohan: “Yes, yes and that … happened in the summer of 92 and that was the first I was able to talk to Nate and he would talk to me about what had happened.”
Michalski: “And what if anything occurs during that conversation with the Defendant?”
11:35:18-11:35:30 AM
D. Wolohan: “He shared with me that he had abused Brian. He didn’t mention any other names, no other boys. As far as I knew, it was just Brian.”
##
Richard (“Dick”) Wolohan
Cross Examination by Defense Counsel
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
11:42:36-11:44:42
Drew: “You indicated at some point after you spoke with Mr. Rosencrantz in the spring of 92, you never went to the police then, and one of reasons you said you never went to the police was because you didn’t know if it was true.”
D. Wolohan: “Initially [he didn’t know if it was true]. Yes.”
Drew: “Did you do any sort of an investigation to determine whether the statements of Brian were true or not? I mean Mr. Rosencrantz. I am sorry.”
D. Wolohan: “Well, yes, when I talked to the pastors of Covenant Life Church, their response was to meet with Nate and me in a park behind our house which we did. And apparently, my recollection of what was said or done there is very dim, but apparently Nate denied everything at that meeting.”
Drew: “What year was that meeting?”
D. Wolohan: “The spring of 92.”
Drew: “Who was the pastor [Grant Layman according to police reports] that you had this conversation with if you recall?”
D. Wolohan: “I cannot say for certainty. It is one of two people.”
Drew: “And who were they?”
D. Wolohan: “Grant Layman who would have been the youth pastor and Robin Boisvert who would have been the pastor of adults over our subgroup.”
Drew: “Did you ever become aware after that meeting in the spring of 92 that Mr. Layman had ever gone to the police about these allegations?”
D. Wolohan: “I had no further contact with Covenant Life on any of this subject. So, I don’t know what they did.”
Drew: “But you were still a member of this church?”
D. Wolohan: “Right.”
##
Richard (“Dick”) Wolohan
Redirect Examination by State
Tuesday, May 14, 2014
11:46:18-11:46:56 AM
Michalski: “And this meeting that happen at the park behind the church [actually it was behind the Wolohan’s house] with the Defendant, yourself and at least one other member of the church, where the Defendant denied the abuse, was that before or after you went to meet with the Defendant at Teen Challenge.”
D. Wolohan: “That was before. …”
Michalski: “And at Teen Challenge after this meeting with the pastors [Grant Layman & Robin Boisvert], that was when he revealed to you what had occurred.”
D. Wolohan: “Yes. So, most of what I know about it is what he told me, Nate.”
Here is substantiating evidence from a police report.
Detective Sally Magee
Incident – Offense Report
July 22, 2011
“On January 22, 2010, the writer and Det. R. Toner spoke with Ernest [Robin] Boisvert. … In the 1980’s, some boys were abused at the Christian school [Montgomery County Covenant Academy]. Mr. Boisvert accompanied Grant Layman to confront Nate Morales [with Dick Wolohan in the spring of 1992], who neither denied nor confessed. He was accused of abusing teenage boys [by Rachael Bates-Paci in June 1991]. The meeting took place in a park in the Flower Valley subdivision [behind the Wolohan house].
“Mr. Boisvert denied being the “lead” pastor in the matter and advised Grant Layman was lead pastor. … He [Boisvert] was aware that Rachel Paci was upset that nothing happened when the matter was brought to the church [e.g. to Chris Glass and Grant Layman in June 1991]. … No report was made to the police as the families [Bates’ & Wolohan’s] did not indicate that was their desire. Mr. Boisvert indicated going to the police was in the ‘realm of possibilities’ as a remedy for the problem. Mr. Boisvert did not doubt the ‘veracity of the families.’”
In this police report, Detective Magee documents how Layman lied to her and Detective Toner during their investigation leading up to Morales’ arrest. This was also asserted as an allegation of fact in the lawsuit in paragraph 39 which stated,
“This ongoing conspiracy is evidenced by, among other things, Defendant Layman’s statements made to police in connection with their investigation of Morales.”
I wrote about these lies in Grant Layman & the Conspiracy Surrounding Nathaniel Morales because I possessed the police reports. Here is what I said.
“Grant Layman made misleading and false statements to detectives during their three-year investigation. On January 7, 2010, he told detectives that Robin Boisvert was the ‘lead’ pastor in the Morales matter and he (i.e., Layman) only had ‘vague recollections’ regarding Samuel Bates.
“Two weeks later, detectives followed up with Robin Boisvert. He provided conflicting testimony and ‘denied being the “lead” pastor in the matter and advised [said] Grant Layman was lead pastor.’ Boisvert also said he ‘accompanied Grant Layman’ in the early 1990’s ‘to confront Nate Morales, who neither denied nor confessed. He was accused of abusing teenage boys. The meeting took place in a park in the Flower Valley subdivision.’ Boisvert’s recollections were not the least bit vague.
"Layman also told Detectives he ‘had no direct recollection’ of a meeting he had with Samuel Bates’ father in 2010. This meeting was also attended by Robin Boisvert. Boisvert again provided conflicting testimony. He told detectives he ‘recalled the meeting and the fact that Mr. Layman was present.’ Much more could be said.”
Setting aside the issue of Layman lying, let me point out the obvious again. He and Boisvert would never have joined with Wolohan to confront Morales about the sexual abuse of Brian Wolohan without Mahaney’s counsel and approval. And bear in mind, Layman was the “lead pastor” in this endeavor.
Furthermore, Wolohan and Mahaney were friends and close colleagues at the time. Layman would have told Mahaney about the meeting on the basis on his relationship with Wolohan alone.
Three other things should be noted. This meeting occurred in the spring of 1992. That was after Rachael Bates-Paci had her meeting with Chris Glass, Grant Layman, and Thurlow Switzer in the summer of 1991 regarding the abuse of her brother Sam Bates and many other boys from CLC. Boisvert pointed out to detectives that “Rachel Paci was upset that nothing happened when the matter was brought to the church.” In other words, she was upset the pastors did not report it to the police. Boisvert made this statement in the context of explaining to Detective Magee that reporting the alleged abuse of Brian Wolohan was only in “the realm of possibilities.” Boisvert did not doubt the “veracity of the families” including Rachael Bates-Paci.
The Sexual Abuse of James Roberts by Nathaniel Morales Was Known to Chris Glass & Grant Layman
A third trial regarding the sexual abuse of James Roberts by Nate Morales was scheduled for May 21-22, 2104. Morales was indicted on July 18, 2013 for “Sex Offense Third Degree” against Roberts. The trial was cancelled because Morales was found guilty on five counts in the first trial (May 12-15, 2014) regarding Samuel Bates, Brian Wolohan, Jeremy Cook and two counts in the second trial (May 19-20, 2014) regarding David Tapia Jr.
Therefore, the State decided it was not in the interest of “judicial prudence” to proceed with a third trial regarding James Roberts. That basically means Montgomery County District Attorney John McCarthy decided not to proceed since he had guilty verdicts in order to save the State of Maryland time and money.
Mr. Roberts furnished me the statement below. He wanted to face Morales in court but he understood the reasoning provided by Assistant State’s Attorney Amanda Michalski for not proceeding.
James Roberts’ Public/Media Statement
05/23/2014
There has seemed to be much confusion as to why my case in particular (MD vs Morales 123155C) was not tried. Let me be clear; it was not due to a sudden fallacy, or the merits of my case against Nathaniel Morales. Mr. Morales was indicted for “sex offence III” by the State of Maryland and my case remains active today. I want to make it perfectly clear that I stand behind my statements with regard to both my criminal case against Morales, as well as my civil case.
Because both the criminal and civil cases are active, I need to be wise with my words so please accept this brief explanation. The State Attorney’s office has explained to me that they will be following “Judicial Prudence” with regard to my case, and will await the outcome of the August sentencing (possible 120+ years) for the cases which Morales has already been convicted and found guilty of. The prosecution has their reasons & strategy for this.
It is ultimately their (the State of Maryland’s) decision when to proceed with trying the case. My case is also linked to other active and ongoing investigations that could see the courtroom in the future. I want to clearly state that I have every confidence in the justice system, particularly in ASA Amanda Michalski who tried the first two Morales cases. These men & women know what they’re doing and though I cannot comment in further detail, I see the wisdom in them making this call.
As a side note, I would like to encourage other victims to continue coming forward. It is crucial to report your sex abuse, not only for you, but for the victims who may come after you. You just might save a life. And please, please, please report your abuse to the police first, not your pastor. I can’t even begin to describe how healing it’s been just to report what happened to me!
Thank you all so much for your love, support, and prayers. Nate Morales will never be able to hurt another child ever again, and that has been my driving force in all of this. Let’s continue to pray for justice to be done in all of the other cases that will be coming.
Finally I would like to humbly ask that you respect the fact that I cannot comment further and understand that is why I have declined the many numerous media and interview requests. Thank you for understanding that. God bless you all & I am confident that all of these evil deeds will be brought into the light for there is no longer a dark place for this evil to hide.
Sincerely,
James Roberts
Mr. Roberts’ criminal case against Nathaniel Morales was closed when Morales was sentenced to 40 years in prison on August 14, 2014. His civil case against C.J. Mahaney, Grant Layman, Covenant Life Church, et al. was dismissed because the statute of limitations ran out. The dismissal had nothing to do with the case’s merits which were never heard by a Judge or jury.
I was disappointed when I heard the State of Maryland was not going forward with the third trial regarding James Robert’s case. Why? Because more evidence of a conspiracy to cover up the crimes against him and others would have come out. In July 2013, I wrote Grant Layman & the Conspiracy Surrounding Nathaniel Morales. Here is the section dealing with James Roberts. These factual allegations or complaints are found in the Second Amended Complaint (i.e. lawsuit). They provide further evidence of a conspiracy. The observations that follow the complaints are mine.
Plaintiff James Roberts
James Roberts joined the lawsuit against Sovereign Grace Ministries and other Defendants in the Second Amended Complaint filed on May 14, 2013. He alleges two abusers. David Adams in Complaints 32-35, 44 and Nathaniel Morales in Complaints 36-39. I deal with Morales in this post.
Victim: James Roberts
Complaint: 36
Location: Covenant Life Church (Magruder High School) - Dressing Room
Timeframe: 1986/1989
Age: 12/15
Alleged Abuser: Nathaniel Morales
36. During 1986/1989 timeframe, during Plaintiff Roberts’ middle school years, Plaintiff Roberts was molested again on church premises, this time by a man named Nathaniel Morales who was involved in youth ministries. At that time, the CLC church services occurred at Magruder High School. Morales pulled Plaintiff Roberts into one of the dressing rooms off the side of the stage, and began to profess his love for Plaintiff Roberts. Morales began hugging Plaintiff Roberts and manually manipulating his penis. Plaintiff Roberts escaped but did not initially report the molestation because he feared being forced to sit and “reconcile” and “forgive” Morales for the molestation.
Observations
Roberts was “molested again” during his “middle school years.” This time by Nathaniel Morales. His first alleged molestation occurred during his elementary school years at the hands of David Adams. (cf. Complaint 32).
Morales was not employed by Covenant Life Church but he “was involved in youth ministries.” [It turns out he was on the CLC payroll for nine months.] For example, he conducted Bible studies and hosted sleepovers for boys from the youth group. He also taught at Montgomery County Covenant Academy. The school was unaffiliated with Covenant Life Church but kids from the church attended there.
This alleged molestation occurred on a Sunday morning “in one of the dressing rooms off the side of the stage” in Marauder High School. Morales hugged and professed his “love” while trying to masturbate Roberts. Roberts escaped like he did with David Adams (cf. Complaint 32).
Roberts tells us why he did not report this second alleged molestation to Principal Loftness or anyone else. “Plaintiff Roberts…did not initially report the molestation because he feared being forced to sit and ‘reconcile’ and ‘forgive’ Morales for the molestation.” This harkens back to how he was handled by Loftness in Complaint 34. “Instead, Defendant Loftness required Plaintiff Roberts, a child, to attend a meeting with himself and David Adams. Plaintiff Roberts was directed by Defendant Loftness, the principal of his school, to ‘forgive’ Adams for the molestation.”
This account describes Loftness using forgiveness to silence and manipulate an 8-10 year old boy who was just abused by David Adams. I will say more about this in the future.
Victim: James Roberts
Complaints: 37-39
Timeframe: 1990/1994
Age: 16/20
Alleged Abuser: Nathaniel Morales
Alleged Conspirators: Chris Glass, Grant Layman, Individual Defendants
Complaint 37
37. During 1990/1994 timeframe, as Plaintiff Roberts reached high school, he continued to engage in self-help by avoiding Morales. He knew others had been molested by Morales, as his molestations were well known. During one youth group discussion group about being “pure,” some of the teenage boys expressed dismay that it was “too late” for them to be “pure.” Plaintiff Roberts then openly referred to Morales’ ongoing molestation of boys, stating words to the effect, “yeah, Nate got me too.” This discussion group was headed up by Chris Glass, who reported directly to Defendant Layman. After Plaintiff Roberts was questioned about what he meant, and disclosed that Morales molested boys, Chris Glass cautioned him and the other boys against talking about the facts. Plaintiff Roberts learned that Chris Glass informed Defendant Layman about what had transpired immediately after the discussion closed.
Observations
Roberts is now in high school. He tells us the molestations of “Nate” Morales “were well known.” That is true. Grant Layman already knew about some of Morales’ molestations at this time according to police reports.
The reference to “some of the teenage boys” includes Samuel Bates, Daniel Bates, Jeremy Cook, and Brian Wolohan. They are each named as victims in the December 13, 2012 indictments which are a matter of public record. I applaud their bravery. Other “boys” have also told investigators they were molested by Morales. I know all the families affected by these molestations except for one. The evidence against Morales is rock solid. So is the evidence against Grant Layman regarding the conspiracy.
Chris Glass worked for Grant Layman. He immediately reported the “youth group discussion” to his superior. Grant Layman worked for C.J. Mahaney. He too would have immediately reported because Defendant Mahaney was the senior pastor and required anything of this magnitude be brought to his attention. Layman is also Mahaney’s brother-in-law. Moreover, Mahaney knew Morales and was friends of the victims’ parents. In some cases, close friends! Not only did Mahaney know all about Morales molestations, he was the one advising Layman not to involve law enforcement.
According to the factual allegation, “Chris Glass cautioned [Roberts] and the other boys against talking about the facts.” This will be easy to prove at the up-coming jury trial on November 18 [which was postponed until May 21-22, 2014 and then cancelled]. Glass was simply following the training he received from Layman and Mahaney. He is now a Captain in the United States Navy. I hope he is cooperating with law enforcement.
Complaint 38
38. The Individual Defendants conspired to cover up Morales’ ongoing molestation of boys at church events, and conspired to violate their mandatory obligations to report. Wholly apart from and without any help from Defendants, law enforcement years later investigated and indicted Morales for sexually abusing children.
Observations
God knows how many children have been sexually abused by Nathaniel Morales since 1979 when one indictment says his first reported offence occurred. Morales will stand before God and give an account but so will C.J. Mahaney, Grant Layman, Robin Boisvert and anyone else who knew about his heinous crimes but did not report them to law enforcement. Once these men became knowledgeable, they were required by law to report these sex crimes.
It is incomprehensible that these pastors didn’t do everything in their power to make certain Morales was locked up so he couldn’t destroy any more young lives! He needed to be stopped. Instead they let him go and did not track his whereabouts. This enabled him to become a pastor at the Las Vegas Valley Christian Church in Nevada. Is anything more irresponsible? We are not talking about a wolf in sheep’s clothing, we are talking about a wolf in shepherd’s clothing!
Mahaney, Layman, et al. are guilty of criminal neglect if any minors were molested by Morales after these “shepherds” were made aware of his crimes. Jail time is appropriate. Furthermore, these men need to be held accountable by Covenant Life Church and Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville.
None of the victimized boys (now grown men) referenced in the December 13, 2012 indictments and police reports are Plaintiffs in the Second Amended Complaint. All of them could be awaiting a guilty verdict in a criminal court before suing for damages in a civil court. Sovereign Grace Ministries wants everyone to think all is well since the May 17 [2013] dismissal of the lawsuit. Nothing could be further from the truth.
To the best of my knowledge, C.J. Mahaney and the pastors of Covenant Life Church have never notified law enforcement of suspected or actual child sexual abuse since its inception in 1977 to the Second Amended Lawsuit in 2013. That is certainty true in the case of Plaintiff Grace Goe with help from Layman and it is certainly true with Nate Morales. The Plaintiffs’ lawyers note, “Wholly apart from and without any help from Defendants, law enforcement years later investigated and indicted Morales for sexually abusing children.”
Roberts was sexually abused by Morales between 1986 and 1989. That is the same time Morales was abusing many other boys in Covenant Life Church. Roberts reported this abuse to Chris Glass at the youth meeting between 1990 and 1994. Glass reported it to Layman. This is now the fourth time Layman has been told about the sexual abuse of boys in CLC. No one in their right mind would argue Layman kept all this information to himself as a youth pastor and never reported any of it to Mahaney, the senior pastor.
I’ve talked with Roberts at length. He vividly remembers what happen to him. Liebeler never talked to him. Liebeler doesn’t even mention the account of Robert’s abuse by Morales or his reporting of abuse to Glass in his report to CLC. Nor does Liebeler mention the indictment, the scheduled trial, or the reason for the trial being cancelled. That is extreme incompetence or part of a cover-up.
The CLC Pastors Claimed They Had No Knowledge of Morales’ Abuse until Many Years after the Abuse
The following facts are all established by the sworn testimony of Charrie Bates, Sam Bates, Rachael Bates-Paci, Brian Wolohan, Dick Wolohan, Jeremy Cook and Grant Layman at the first trial of Nathaniel Morales on May 12-14, 2014.
Morales abused Sam Bates from 1983-1991. He abused Brian Wolohan and Jeremy Cook from 1988-1991. The abuse ended in July 1991 when Morales moved out of the Wolohan home to North Carolina.
Rachael Bates-Paci reported Morales’ abuse to CLC pastors in June 1991 while it was still happening. Dick Wolohan reported Morales’ alleged abuse to CLC pastors in spring 1992. Sam Bates reported his abuse to CLC pastors in 1992 or early 1993. Brian Wolohan reported his abuse to CLC pastors in late 1993. John Roberts reported his abuse to CLC pastors between 1990 and 1994.
Morales was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2012 after a three-year investigation. He was indicted in December 2012. The story of his arrest and indictment broke before his pretrial hearing in Maryland in February 2013.
The Associated Press was the first to print the story in The Washington Post. The Washington Examiner quickly followed. Overnight, media outlets around the nation picked up the story. Here are two excerpts.
Associated Press
Man accused of molesting boys in 1980s from Md. church; church is identified in sex abuse suit
February 4, 2013 at 5:44 PM
WASHINGTON — A Las Vegas man has been charged in Maryland with molesting multiple boys in the 1980s while assisting with youth ministries at a church targeted in a child sex abuse lawsuit. …
An indictment returned in December charged Morales, 55, with ten counts of either sex abuse or sex offense. The indictment says the sex acts involved four boys [Sam Bates, Daniel Bates, Jeremy Cook, Brian Wolohan] and occurred between 1985 and 1990, when police say Morales was helping the church with youth ministries, conducted Bible studies, teaching at a Christian school and hosting sleepovers. …
The criminal investigation began in 2009 when a man [Sam Bates] reported to police that he was sexually abused by Morales when he was between the ages of 12 and 20 [1983-1991]. The man told police that his parents [Scott & Charrie Bates] had spoken to the church pastor [Grant Layman in 1992 or early 1993] but that no police report was made. …
Police interviewed a co-pastor [Robin Boisvert] at the church who recalled having confronted Morales about the allegations [in spring 1992]. The pastor told police that “normally the church would appeal to the person to stop his criminal behavior and then, should it not stop, they would alert people that the person is not acting in a Christian manner. The person would need to show contrition,” according to a police report filed in the case. The pastor said that going to the police was in the “realm of possibilities,” but that he took his cues from the families, the police report says.
##
The Washington Examiner
Former Christian school teacher accused of molesting boys
By Scott McCabe
February 4, 2013 at 7:25 PM
A former youth worker and teacher at a Christian school in Gaithersburg has been charged with molesting teenage boys during the 1980s and ‘90s.
Nathaniel Morales, 55, has been indicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court on 10 counts of sexually abusing four boys under his care.
Morales, now a Pentecostal bishop in Las Vegas, has a hearing scheduled for Friday.
Police began investigating in 2009 after a man [Sam Bates] came forward to say that Morales had performed sex acts on him beginning when he was about 14 years old. …
The victim’s father [Scott Bates] told detectives that he talked with pastors [Grant Layman & Robin Boisvert] about Morales [in 1992 or early 1993], but there were “concerns of tarnished reputations,” and no police report was made.
Police interviewed two pastors [Grant Layman & Robin Boisvert] who confirmed that they talked to Morales [in spring 1992] about the allegations that he was abusing boys.
One pastor, Ernest [he goes by Robin] Boisvert, told police that “normally the church would appeal to the accused to stop his criminal behavior and then, should it not stop, they would alert people that the person is not acting in a Christian manner,” according to police.
These stories by the Associated Press and The Washington Examiner were based upon the police reports (Dec 2009, Jul 2011), the charging document (Oct 2012), and the ten-count indictment (Dec 2012) in their possession. These in turn were based upon the interviews done by detectives with Sam Bates, Daniel Bates, Scott and Charrie Bates, Rachael Bates-Paci, Grant Layman, Robin Boisvert, Dick and Marsha Wolohan, Brian Wolohan, and others between October 20, 2009 and July 13, 2011. All of these are in my possession.
Two days after these news stories came out, Covenant Life Church put out this press release on its website. I cite it in entirety. The link has been removed.
Covenant Life Church Blog
Response to News Reports
February 6, 2013 at 10:39 am
On Monday [February 4] news reports were widely circulated about a Nevada man, Nathaniel Morales, who has been charged in Maryland with molesting boys during the 1980s. The reports contain allegations that this abuse occurred when Mr. Morales was a teacher, erroneously implying that he was a teacher at Covenant Life School. The reports fail to state that Mr. Morales, though a church member at the time, was never a pastor in Covenant Life Church nor a teacher in Covenant Life School. Rather, Mr. Morales was a teacher employed by an independent private school in Montgomery County not affiliated with Covenant Life Church or School.
Contrary to the impression left by the news reports, Covenant Life Church had no knowledge of such abuse until many years after the abuse when an adult who had been victimized as a child came forward.
The criminal matter described in these news reports is distinct from the civil lawsuit filed last October against Sovereign Grace Ministries, that was amended in January of this year to add Covenant Life Church as a defendant. The church will respond appropriately to the allegations in that pending lawsuit through the legal system.
Our church places a high priority on protecting children, and has had robust child protection practices and policies in place for many years. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with anyone affected by the trauma of sexual abuse. We pray that they will receive the healing, comfort and peace of Christ. And we continue to invite your prayers for all those involved in these matters.
In this statement, Joshua Harris and his pastoral staff including Grant Layman, Robin Boisvert, and Kenneth Maresco categorical denied any knowledge of any sexual abuse by Morales “until many years after the abuse when an adult who had been victimized as a child came forward." Sam Bates came forward on October 20, 2009. That is when he contacted the Family Crimes Division of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland and reported the crimes against him. Harris, Layman, Boisvert, and Maresco are claiming they knew nothing until after this date. They are blatant liars.
Furthermore, they castigated the Associated Press, The Washington Examiner, etc. for giving the impression the pastors knew about Morales’ abuse around the time it was occurring. But it was not the news reporters, it was the three Montgomery County, Maryland detectives working the Morales case who left the “impression” that Rachel Bates-Paci first reported the abuse in 1991, Dick Wolohan met with Grant Layman and Robin Boisvert regarding the abuse of Brian Wolohan in spring 1992, and Sam Bates and his parents met with “another pastor” (Gary Ricucci) and Grant Layman regarding his abuse in in 1992 or early 1993!
Here are a few examples from the police reports.
“On January 1, 2010, the writer [Det. Sally Magee] met with Rachel Paci, Samuel Bates’ sister. Ms. Paci learned of her brother’s abuse when she was 16-17 years old [in 1989-1990]. The information “weighted heavily” on her. As she was older, many of the boys in the Christian school that she attended confided to her about their abuse as well. Ms. Paci brought the matter to the [youth] pastor [Chris Glass] of her church, Covenant of Life, and to one of the leaders [Grant Layman] in the church.”
“On January 7, 2010, the writer [Det. Sally Magee] and Det. R. Toner met with Grant Layman, a pastor at Covenant Life Church. The writer asked Mr. Layman about his conversation with Samuel Bates’ father [in 1992 or early 1993] concerning Samuel’s report. Mr. Layman advised he had “vague recollections” from 15-20 years ago [i.e., 1990-1995].”
“On January 22, 2010, the writer and Det. R. Toner spoke with Ernest [Robin] Boisvert. … In the 1980’s, some boys were abused at the Christian school. Mr. Boisvert accompanied Grant Layman to confront Nate Morales [with Dick Wolohan in spring 1992], who neither denied nor confessed. He was accused [by Rachael Bates-Paci] of abusing teenage boys [in June 1991]. The meeting took place in a park in the Flower Valley subdivision. Mr. Boisvert denied being the “lead” pastor in the matter and advised Grant Layman was lead pastor. It was a different climate twenty years ago [in 1990].”
Of course, every media outlet in America with the police reports, charging document, and indictment believed pastors at Covenant Life Church knew about the abuse when, or soon after, it occurred. That was the only reasonable deduction.
Jeremy Cook also provided sworn testimony at the Morales trial that he and Sam Bates came forward in 1992 or 1993.
Jeremy Cook
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:51:11-2:53:55 PM
Michalski: “And without telling us what precisely you said, did there come a point in time when you finally disclosed the abuse?”
Cook: “Yes ma’am.”
Michalski: “And when was it that you first disclosed to someone you were being abused by the Defendant?”
Cook: “About 93. Sam Bates came to me. We were friends. We went out to get food and just go hang out as we always did and he opened up to me about the fact that he.” [interrupted by Michalski]
Michalski: “Without telling us what he said, as a result of you speaking with him, did you then disclose what had occurred to you?”
Cook: “Yes ma’am I did.”
Michalski: “Okay. And was that the first person you told about the abuse?”
Cook: “To the best of my recollection, yes.”
Michalski: “And after you told Sam Bates did there come a point in time that you made your parents aware of the abuse?”
Cook: “Yes ma’am.”
Michalski: “And when was that? How old were you at the time?”
Cook: “I was still right around 19. 19 or 20 [1992 or 1993]. So, it was around 19 when I told Sam what had happened. So, it was shortly after that that I told my parents.”
Michalski: “And what if anything happened after you told your parents in relationship to the church?”
Cook: “After I told my parents I worked with Sam to bring it to the attention of the pastors at Covenant Life Church because they were, again that is the way we were raised, you take these things to your pastors. So, we took it to the pastors of Covenant Life Church and we were told that it would be handled. It would be taken care of. “
Michalski: “And specifically, did you speak with a pastor by the name of Grant Layman at that time about the abuse?”
Cook: “I did not speak with Grant directly. No.”
Michalski: “And at that time, when you initially disclosed to Mr. Bates and to your parents, did you ever report it to the police?”
Cook: “No.”
Michalski: “Can you tell us why you didn’t report it at that time?”
Cook: “Well, I believed that when it was reported up to the church that they would take care of it. I believed that they would pursue it. That they would handle the situation. That they would do something to stop him.”
##
Jeremy Cook
Cross Examination by Defense Counsel
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
3:02:37-3:02:50 PM
Drew: “What year was it that Sam Bates told you what had happen to him and you told him what had happened to you? What year was that?”
Cook: “I believe it was 93, perhaps 94.”
Drew: “And how old were you then?”
Cook: “I would have been approximately 19.” [1992 based on DOB]
3:02:58-3:03:18 PM
Drew: “Did you and Sam decide to go and tell the authorities then what had happened when you were 19?”
Cook: “No. First we went to the leadership of Covenant Life.”
3:04:06- 3:05:13 PM
Drew: “And who were the leaders that you went to?”
Cook: “Sam had a meeting with Grant Layman.”
Drew: “Were you there?”
Cook: “No, I was not.”
Drew: “Did you ever become aware that Grant Layman at any time went to the police and told the police what had happened?”
Cook: “Not to my knowledge.”
Drew: “Did Grant Layman come to you and discuss with you what had happened?”
Cook: “No, I have not had any conversations. To the best of my knowledge, I have had no conversations with Grant Layman about this subject in any way, shape or form.”
Drew: “Without saying any of the details, did you ever become aware of from Sam, the church elders doing anything at all about this after he had made this disclosure to Grant Layman?”
Cook: “The basic information I had received back was that they would take care of it.”
Drew: “Okay. Didn’t tell you how?”
Cook: “Nope.”
Drew: “To the best of your knowledge at any point in time, did they ever take care of it?”
Cook: “No.”
Keep in mind what the Covenant Life pastors said in their “Response to News Reports.”
“Contrary to the impression left by the news reports, Covenant Life Church had no knowledge of such abuse until many years after the abuse when an adult who had been victimized as a child came forward.”
They categorically denied all knowledge of any sexual abuse by Nathaniel Morales “until many years after the abuse when an adult [Sam Bates] who had been victimized as a child came forward.” Let’s rehearse the indisputable facts one more time.
Morales abused Sam Bates from 1983-1991. He abused Brian Wolohan and Jeremy Cook from 1988-1991. Rachel Bates-Paci reported abuse to Chris Glass and Grant Layman in 1991, Dick Wolohan met with Grant Layman and Robin Boisvert regarding the abuse of Brian Wolohan in 1992, and Sam Bates and his parents met with Grant Layman and Gary Ricucci regarding his abuse in 1992 or early 1993.
This much is absolutely certain! Layman and Boisvert knew the denial put out by the Covenant Life pastors was a lie! There is no way around it.
Furthermore, are we to conclude that Layman and Boisvert never told Joshua Harris or any of the other CLC pastors about the timeline they had already laid out for detectives which completely repudiated the “Response to News Reports”? Remember, their interviews with detectives took place in January 2010. The denial was put out in February 2013. Did Layman and Boisvert really keep secret for three years what they told the detectives about their knowledge of Morales’ crimes going back to the early 1990s? I can’t imagine that is the case.
Moreover, the Covenant Life pastors claimed they learned about the sexual abuse of Sam Bates “many years” after the fact; not a couple years, a few years, or several years but many years. Many years is a long period of time. That is a completely false statement!
What is the clear implication? We didn’t cover anything up! There wasn’t a period of “many years” when we knew about the abuse but did nothing. Therefore, the media is wrong to imply we knew. Nothing could be further from the truth! That was pure spin.
The purpose of this denial was obvious. The CLC pastors wanted everyone to think they knew nothing about any abuse for the longest time and that is why they did nothing for the longest time. In fact, they clearly implied Sam Bates was abused as a young child and didn’t come forward until many years later as a mature adult in October 2009 which is when they found out. Nothing could be further from the truth. Covenant Life pastors knew about the abuse at the time of the abuse and shortly after the abuse in the early 1990's.
The question is what did the Covenant Life pastors do with this knowledge? Nothing! They did not report it to the police. They did not investigate it. They did not follow up on Morales. This happened when Mahaney was the sr. pastor. Remember Layman’s testimony under oath about the pastoral team never reporting.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:15:11-2:15:23 PM
Drew: “And are you aware as to whether or not any member of the pastoral team at any time contacted the police concerning allegations of sexual abuse?”
Layman: “I am not aware of that.”
Remember Layman’s testimony under oath about himself.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2:20:02-2:20:54 PM
Drew: “Did you have a responsibility as a pastor, when you become aware of sexual child abuse, did you have a responsibility to report that to the police department? That is a yes or no.”
Layman: “I believe so.”
Drew: “And you didn’t do it.”
Layman: “No sir.”
Also remember Dick Wolohan’s testimony under oath that no one ever followed up with him after the meeting between him, Layman, Boisvert and Morales in the spring of 1992.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
11:42:36-11:44:42
Drew: “Did you ever become aware after that meeting in the spring of 92 that Mr. Layman had ever gone to the police about these allegations?”
D. Wolohan: “I had no further contact with Covenant Life on any of this subject. So I don’t know what they did.”
Drew: “But you were still a member of this church?”
D. Wolohan: “Right.”
I was able to talk with Dick and Marsha Wolohan during the trial. I asked Dick about this specific statement because I was astounded none of the pastors ever contacted them after 1992 to do a follow up investigation, fill them in on new information, or find out how they were doing.
This further confirms the conspiracy to cover up Morales’ abuse. From 1992-2014 there was absolutely no contact with Dick or Marsha by Mahaney, Layman, Boisvert, et al. That is staggering.
The same thing happened with Jeremy Cook. No one ever followed up with him, filled him in, cared for his soul or contacted his parents.
Grant Layman’s Knowledge of Morales’ Abuse of Boys in the New Testament Church before Coming to Covenant Life Church
There was also a second trial of Morales on May 19-20, 2104 in which Layman was called to testify. This trial concerned the abuse of David Tapia Jr. in the summer of 1980. Morales was found guilty on one count of sex abuse and one count of sex offense. Let me provide some important background before I proceed.
In 1980, Morales was an ordained minister in a Pentecostal denomination called the New Testament Church. Today, it claims 1.25 million members worldwide. He abused David Tapia Jr. at a youth retreat in the summer of 1980. Tapia told “Brother” Wayne Pratt, who was also an ordained minister in the denomination, about the abuse in the spring of 1981.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentecostal_Mission for information on the denomination.
Pratt did an investigation at the request of Don Spiers, who was the top American leader in the New Testament Church and discovered Morales had abused numerous other boys in the ministry in the Washington D.C./Maryland area. Spiers publicly excommunicated Morales at the “headquarters” church in Lanham, Maryland soon thereafter. Soon after his excommunication, Morales made his way to Covenant Life Church in 1981 or 1982.
The first boy in Covenant Life Church known to be abused by Morales was Sam Bates in 1983. Morales also abused at least seven other boys in CLC from 1983-1991 according to police reports. I’ve not included all their names. In 1991, Morales was exposed by Rachael Bates-Paci and “forced out” of the church according to Assistant State’s Attorney Amanda Michalski. In the summer of 1992, he was sent to Teen Challenge in Michigan for a year to be treated for alcoholism and homosexuality. The Covenant Life pastors never told Teen Challenge he was a sexual predator. After Teen Challenge, he moved back to Germantown, MD in 1993 and lived with Tom Hartley who was member of Covenant Life Church.
In June of 1994, he married Marcia Griffeth, who had five sons from a previous marriage. He abused two of her sons (his stepsons) and many other boys over the next 18 years until he was arrested in October 2012. There were five active criminal investigations of Morales going on in five states in May 2014. Those investigations have been closed since he was sentenced to 40 years in Maryland on August 14, 2014.
Nate Morales was a serial, predatory, child sex abuser for over 30 years! He was never stopped because he was never reported to police until Sam Bates did so in 2009. That is why we have laws mandating the reporting of suspected sex abusers! These laws must be obeyed. They are for the good of our children and society. Sex abusers don’t limit their abuse to one victim at one point in time. The average abuser victimizes scores and scores of children. Nate Morales is your average, typical, predicable child abuser!
With that background in mind, read carefully the testimony provided by Wayne Pratt regarding the excommunication of Nate Morales by Don Spiers in the summer of 1981. Why? Because Grant Layman was called to the stand after Pratt in this second trial. Layman testified that he too knew about Morales’ excommunication by Spiers for abusing boys in the New Testament Church denomination. In other words, Layman had knowledge of these events which predated Morales coming to CLC in 1981 or 1982.
Wayne Pratt
Direct Examination by State
Monday, May 19, 2014
4:01:11-4:01:38 PM
Michalski: “What did you do with the information that you received from Mr. Tapia [in the spring of 1981]?”
Pratt: “Well, after I spoke with him and several other young men, I reported back to Don Spiers [the top leader]. …”
Michalski: “And after you had reported what you had learned from Mr. Tapia back to Don Spiers what if anything happened to the Defendant [Morales].”
Pratt: “He was publicly excommunicated from the church [in 1981].”
4:06:33-4:07:17 PM
Michalski: “Did there come a point in time, Mr. Pratt, after you received that information [about Morales abusing boys in the NT Church], where you were contacted at a later point by the Defendant again?”
Pratt: “Yes.”
Michalski: “And when was that?”
Pratt: “That was in the summer of 1990.” [when Morales was abusing boys at Covenant Life Church]
Michalski: “And what was the purpose of the Defendant contacting you?”
Pratt: “He was employed by a Christian school, Montgomery County Covenant Academy (MCCA), and he called me to see if I was interested in teaching because they needed a science teacher.”
Michalski: “And did there in fact come a point in time where you then became employed by Montgomery County Covenant Academy?”
Pratt: “Absolutely.”
Michalski: “And was the Defendant employed at that time as well?”
Pratt: “Yes.”
4:07:34-4:07:58 PM
Michalski: “Did there come a point in time when you had a conversation specifically with the Defendant about the abuse that had occurred that you were aware of with David Tapia?”
Pratt: “Yes. Actually it was when I was interviewed for the position. Both the principal [Thurlow Switzer] of the school and Mr. Morales were present when I was interviewed and at the end of the interview he [Morales] made a comment.”
4:08:53-4:09:13 PM
Michalski: “Did there come a point in time specifically where you asked the Defendant if he had told the Administrators there [at MCCA] about the sexual abuse that had occurred in regards to Mr. Tapia?”
Pratt: “Yes. Actually, it was in that initial interview [the summer of 1990].”
Michalski: “Okay. And what did he say in response?”
Pratt: “He said I have told the principal [Thurlow Switzer] about everything.”
See http://www.lgmweb.org/thurlow-switzer.html for information about Switzer.
In this second trial, Grant Layman told ASA Amanda Michalski he knew about Nate Morales’ confession of sex abuse to Don Spiers and his subsequent excommunication from the New Testament Church in 1981. That occurred before Morales came to Covenant Life Church. Layman talked to Morales about these very issues during a phone conversation in 2007. It is important to realize Layman knew Morales was a serial predator in the New Testament Church (1979-1981) and in Covenant Life Church (1983-1991).
Grant Layman
Direct Examination by State
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
9:44:39-2:46:11 AM
Michalski: “When did you meet Mr. Morales?”
Layman: “I believe it would have been some time in the mid-80s.”
Michalski: “And did there come a point in time where Mr. Morales came to you to serve on the worship team at Covenant Life Church?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “Following that did there come a point in time in 2007 when you spoke with Mr. Morales about his conversations with a man by the name of Don Spiers regarding allegations of prior sexual abuse?”
Layman: “Yes.”
Michalski: “What if anything did he tell you about his conversation with Don Spiers [in 1981]?”
Layman: “He related to me that Don Spiers was his mentor and that he acknowledged to him everything from his past and that Don Spiers had died, I believe three years prior.”
Michalski: “Okay. And did he say anything in regards to whether or not Mr. Spiers had held him accountable for the sexual abuse.”
Layman: “Yes. … He said that he was his mentor and that he held him accountable.”
Michalski followed up on Pratt’s and Layman’s testimony in her closing argument.
Amanda Michalski
Assistant State’s Attorney
Closing Argument
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
11:03:50-11:04:16 AM
“And then you heard testimony from Brother Wayne [Pratt]. That in the spring of 1981 he was contacted by the main pastor at the church, Don Spiers. And that as a result, he spoke to with a number of victims about the Defendants sexual abuse. And one of those was David Tapia. And Mr. Tapia indicated at that point in time that he had been a victim.”
11:04:41-11:05:20 AM
“You also heard from another pastor in a different church, Grant Layman that in 2007 he had a conversation with the Defendant about allegations of sexual abuse and specifically about Don Spiers. And what did the Defendant say? He said that he had confessed his past to Don Spiers, Don Spiers was a mentor and that Don Spiers had held him accountable. And that’s corroborated by what you all know, what Mr. Wayne [Wayne Pratt] testified to, which was that the Defendant was excommunicated from the church. It was public and that Brother Wayne was there.”
At this point, some important questions arise out of Layman’s testimony in the second trial. For instance, how and when did he discover the information about Morales abusing boys in the New Testament Church before coming to Covenant Life Church? Or about Morales’ confession to Don Spiers and the excommunication that followed in 1981? Layman brings up these subjects to Morales in his 2007 phone conversation on behalf of the Covenant Life pastors but who told Layman about the pre-Covenant Life abuses, confession, and excommunication and when was he told? In all likelihood, Layman found out about these matters during his meeting with Thurlow Switzer in 1991.
A Chronology of Events that Proves a Conspiracy to Cover Up Morales' Crimes
Here’s what we know.
Joshua Harris & Top Pastors from Covenant Life Church Knew Nathaniel Morales Was a Serial, Long Term, Child Sex Abuser but Conspired Not to Report Him in 2007
The two Morales trials were not about proving a conspiracy headed up by C.J. Mahaney. Assistant State’s Attorneys Amanda Michalski and Jessica Hall were tasked with convicting Morales of sex abuse crimes. In the process, however, pastoral conspiracies in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 2007 were proven by Grant Layman and other witnesses. A conspiracy occurs when two or more people decide not to report a suspected or known sex abuser to law enforcement. At a minimum the following occurred. Layman and Glass decided not to report in 1991. Layman and Boisvert decided not to report in 1992. Layman and Ricucci decided not to report in 1993. And Layman, Boisvert, Joshua Harris, Corby Megorden, and Kenneth Maresco decided not to report in 2007.
The Testimony of Marcia Griffeth, Jeff Cole and Joshua Cole
Griffeth is Marcia’s maiden name. Jeff and Joshua Cole are twin brothers from her first marriage. Nate Morales became their stepfather. Morales sexual abused Joshua and his younger brother, Andrew.
Morales was found guilty on five counts in the first trial on May 15. Jeff and Joshua wrote the following on my Facebook page a few days later. I largely agreed with their perspective, if not their vulgar language, and empathized with their struggles in the faith.
Jeff Cole
May 18, 2014 at 7:26 pm
“If these so-called men of God [the pastors at CLC] did what they were supposed to way back when they would have saved my mom 18 yrs. of marriage to this monster and my brothers [Joshua and Andrew] from being victims and the countless others in MI, NV, OK possibly Puerto Rico and Mexico. I have almost lost my faith because of this man [Nate Morales, his stepfather] and all the other men of God (said with as much sarcasm add [as] possible) who knew about it and covered it up. Fucking hypocrites!!!!!!!!
Jeff Cole
May 19, 2014 at 7:58 pm
“Thanks for the replies from many of you. To let you know where I come from I was his [Nate Morales’] youth pastor/associate pastor of two different churches I helped him start. I worked with this man for 7+ years and some of the victims are from my youth group. I sat under his teachings, witnessed many miracles and saw numerous people come to accept Christ because of this man and his teachings. (I refuse to speak his name ever again and my family refers to him as fucktard). I struggle because of these so called men of God [the CLC pastors] that knew his past but never came forward, especially when he married a single woman with 5 boys. Then working with him and seeing everything and now looking back how can God use a monster like him? Why didn’t someone speak out? Why was nothing said before he joined my family and aisles [abused] my brothers? Why did my youth, that I was charged with protecting, become more victims of his monstrosity across the country? Why?
I don’t know if I will ever know the real answer to this. All I do know is that these non-men of God, who stood at the pulpit, preaching how we should trust them and God and give our money and time to them and the church, should all be thrown in jail and all the wealth they have accumulated by lying and deceiving people should be handed over to all the victims. I am not including myself but the ones he actually assaulted and ruined their lives. They are the ones who should reap from the bounty they have stolen from the people. They should suffer public shame and locked away for good.
I tried for years to please this man [his step father] and be accepted but was always made to freak [feel] I was never good enough. I was always the bad example he would use in his sermons. I was always the example of what not to do. I wasted so much of life with him and for him that I will never get back, like all of his many victims spread across the country will never get their childhood back. I feel bad and sorry for all the victims of this monster.
I know I am rambling so I will end what was intended to be a short Thank you.
Joshua Cole (J. Crash Korse on FB)
May 19 at 8:26 pm
Every single person that knew of his crimes and did nothing are just as guilty as Fucktard [Nate Morales, his step father] is. People in the CLC [Covenant Life Church] KNEW of his crimes when Fucktard was set to marry my mother. They allowed him to continue his ways, and allowed myself and MY YOUNGER BROTHER to be abused by this monster. These men of god bastards were more concerned about their incomes than protecting the innocent. They tried to sweep it under the rug rather than let their building w/ a plus sign on top [the cross on top of the CLC bldg.] receive a black eye. I cannot fathom these reasoning of these bastards who allowed him to continue destroying lives, especially that of MY FUCKING FAMILY. There is nothing anyone can [say] about god and his plan that will take away my hatred of Fucktard, church and god. How is this all part of god’s plan? It’s all BULLSHIT.
A month before the trial, I asked Marcia about the extent of Morales’ interstate crimes.
Brent Detwiler
April 12, 2014 at 6:02 pm
How many different states do you think [Nate] abused boys in?
Marcia Jo Griffeth
April 12, 2014 at 6:05 pm
No idea but just since after we married – it’s happened in OK [Oklahoma] 3x, MI [Michigan] 1x, Puerto Rico at least once, NV [Nevada] 4x and probably in MX [Mexico] as well!!
After Morales was sentenced to 40 years on August 14, 2014, Marcia sent me this message.
Marcia Jo Griffeth
August 15, 2014
He [Nate] continued the same behavior [as that in CLC] while married to me for 19 yrs, was a Pastor of several churches we started, abused 2 of my sons and many others came forward to tell me they were abused by him as well. I never knew it til the nite of his arrest [Oct 15, 2012]. I’m going to write a book...so much I have to share with others. I thank God he is locked up for the rest of his life so he can’t harm anyone else!!
The Covenant Life pastoral staff in 1993 included C.J. Mahaney, Gary Ricucci, Robin Boisvert, John Loftness, Kenneth Maresco, Grant Layman, and Chris Glass. At this time, Mahaney, Boisvert, Layman, Glass and Ricucci knew about Morales’ long history of sexually abusing boys. In all likelihood, so did Loftness and Maresco.
There is every reason to believe these pastors followed Mahaney’s counsel and agreed not to report Morales to law enforcement. This resulted in the sexual abuse of boys in Puerto Rico, Mexico and across the United States. That being the case, I agree with Jeff and Joshua Cole. Those guilty should go to jail, suffer public shame, and their wealth used to restitute victims. That is especially true of Mahaney.
Remember, in daring display of unimaginable deceit, Mahaney asserted through his lawyer that "he did not know" anything about any of the above! To be continued.
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