Crawfordsville church volunteer faces 5 counts of molestation

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- A youth ministry volunteer at a Montgomery County church was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of child molesting. Jordan Roseboom, 24, of Crawfordsville, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on Wednesday for five counts of child molestation. Sheriff Mark Casteel said police began their investigation Tuesday after a pastor from Rock Point Baptist Church took Roseboom to the sheriff's office to speak with the police. Roseboom is accused of fondling or touching children under the age of 14. As of Wednesday, five boys had been identified as victims. Casteel said the investigation is still under way, and Roseboom could face additional charges if other victims are identified. On Wednesday night, Roseboom was being held on $6,000 bond. Casteel said Roseboom was not employed by the church but was a member of the church and volunteered in the church ministry program. A press conference was called in response to the arrest, according to the Crawfordsville Journal-Review. At the press conference, Rock Point pastor Terry Thompson described the matter as a 'tragic situation.' He noted that church members encouraged Roseboom to turn himself in. Thompson said he would offer support to Roseboom if he reached out for it. 'Our hearts are heavy for all involved,' Thompson said. 'It has been a very long, emotional 24 hours.' Attempts to reach Thompson for comment were unsuccessful. There was no answer Wednesday evening at the church. -- Justin L. Mack/[e-mail]

[how do u know]

where does he work and live?

[how do u know]

The children in the entire church need counseling concerning this matter. It may take years for them to come forward.He has left an example for these children in this church not only the one molested.
God have mercy in this crazy world.

[Victims Mom]

I am the mother of a similar situation in Illinois. I pray for the victims in this case as it has been a hard road to deal with over the past 3 years. I read the news coverage and wanted to puke when I read that the church was trying to counsel one of their own in his difficult time! Focus on counseling those poor young victims! Don't victimize them further! The church involved in our case never reached out to us instead focused on the perpetrator. I am not saying that prayers should not be said for him as well but he chose his actions. Those young victims are the ones that need to be focused on!

[local]

howdoyouknow:

He is from Whitestown but lived in a super nice house in Crawfordsville..above someone's garage in an apartment.

He had worked for Nolan Security (ha!). 5 more victims have come forward, total of 10 now.

I agree with the mom from IL. This church is a PR nightmare. They are trying to help the victims, but don't seem like the type to encourage the victims to seek PROFESSIONAL help...instead just putting them with their inhouse Biblical Counselors (lay people with no degree and no professional training for trauma/victim therapy).

Absolute mess.

how did the church not know that their youth minister was having sleepovers with the kids? No excuse for that...the sleepover or the ministers not knowing.

[Josey Wales]

innocent until proven guilty, then get a rope

[Dan Murray]

The problem is that churches are the perfect environment for sexual predators, because they have large numbers of children's programs, a shortage of workers to lead them, and a culture of trust that is the essence of the organization.

In addition to criminal background checks and checking references churches can now use THE DIANA SCREEN® to protect children.

It screens for men and women who have already sexually abused a child. Backed by a database of over 100,000 people with problematic sexual behavior, THE DIANA SCREEN® has scientifically valid methodology. This methodology screens out people who are a sexual risk.

THE DIANA SCREEN® also screens out people who show a very weak understanding of the importance of the sexual boundaries between children and adults. Some will have already sexually abused. Some will be permission-givers who will fail to protect the children from other adults.

www.dianascreen.com

[Make Believe Adults]

how do u know wrote:

The children in the entire church need counseling concerning this matter. It may take years for them to come forward.He has left an example for these children in this church not only the one molested.
God have mercy in this crazy world.

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[happy thoughts]

Empail the sick f$#k on the courthouse lawn and let him slowly bleed out. Maybe people would think twice about touching kids after seeing a REAL punishment.

[John]

It takes two