Jan 13, 2016

Pastor Charged With Raping Teenage Girl Is In Ecuador, Police Say

Andy Campbell
Huffington Post
January 13, 2016

A former pastor thought to be on the run after allegedly raping a teenage girl is trying to return from Ecuador to turn himself in, police said Tuesday.

Jacob Malone, 33, was charged last week with rape and institutional sexual assault for allegedly attacking a teen he'd met years earlier at an Arizona church, according to police from West Whiteland Township in Pennsylvania.

A spokesman with the police department told The Huffington Post on Tuesday that Malone hired a lawyer, and that he was in Ecuador awaiting a return flight to Pennsylvania. Malone plans to turn himself in this week, the spokesman said. Malone's attorney, Charles Proctor, declined to comment on the case.

Police announced Malone's whereabouts just a day after they said he was on the run in an unknown location.

Malone reportedly met the teen when she was 12 years old. In June 2014, when she turned 17, Malone allegedly invited her to live with him and his family in Minnesota. They all moved to Exton, Pennsylvania, a month later, and Malone signed her up to go to a local high school. Malone allegedly began to assault the teen when she lived with his family in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Police said the assaults continued while the teen attended a local church where Malone worked as a pastor. When she turned 18, he allegedly gave her alcohol on several occasions and molested her when she became drunk, police said.

In November 2015, the teen became pregnant and local church leaders confronted Malone, according to Philly.com. He allegedly admitted to impregnating her and resigned later that month.

The victim has since moved away from Pennsylvania to be with her family, Philly.com reports.

Police said Malone planned to turn himself in "sometime this week." It is unclear whether his trip to Ecuador was related to the charges.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/jacob-malone-pastor-rape-ecuador_56956646e4b086bc1cd58b98?utm_hp_ref=crime

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