Officials Say Former Principal Committed Lewd Acts

POMONA, Calif. A former principal at a private school in Pomona is awaiting arraignment July 18 on charges that he committed forcible lewd acts on two students, and authorities Monday asked other potential ...

[Correction]

"John Phillip Asher, 47, of Fletcher, N.C., was the principal at the former Charisma Academy School, now known as Life Center Christian School, from 2000 to 2003, according to Pomona police."

He was the principal of Life Center Christian School which is now known as Charisma Christian Academy (not the other way around).

[Correction]

And he was the pastor and his assistant Rachel Madrid is now the Principal.

Correction wrote:

"John Phillip Asher, 47, of Fletcher, N.C., was the principal at the former Charisma Academy School, now known as Life Center Christian School, from 2000 to 2003, according to Pomona police."
He was the principal of Life Center Christian School which is now known as Charisma Christian Academy (not the other way around).

[Further details]

He was not the pastor at the same time, Phillip Hastie was the pastor of the church that was on the same site as the school. He was a Youth Pastor from about 1994-1996, then he moved out of state and moved back to So Cal in 2000 and took the Principal role. He was somewhat in a Associate pastoral role from 00-03, but in a small role.

[Clarification]

Charisma Life Community Church merged with Pomona Valley Life Center in 2003 and is NOT, at any time, related to the charges against Asher. Asher retired and left California as the churches merged.

[Further Details]

Well it really wasnt a merge, more of a mutual take over. PVLC had internal issues....which is a whole other ball of wax. But you are correct, this incident allegedly occurred BEFORE the church became CLCC. It was PVLC then and the school was Life Center Christian School.

I grew up in that church and I worked there off and on during the mid 90s...and for two months during the stint that theses allegations are said to have taken place.

[kathy]

reply to san antonio

If you were working there at the time, you should have information that would help prove he is inocent--you need to step up and help stop this flogging of an innocent man--please help?

[Jeff]

I am doing what I can. I know the Ashers very well. Ive known them for fourteen years. I agree that he is innocent. Ive worked with him closely several times both in California and in Texas. You sound like you know him, or his family.

[Angry Mom]

To Kathy and Jeff,

It is well said that you two know this man for lots of years but the truth shall prevail, I am the mother of one of the victims - there are 3 so far - now tell me who is insane enough to want to drag their daughters into this kind of mess, for God's sake these children were 9 and 10 years old when your so called "innocent" man raped them! Yes my daughter grew up in that school since preschool till 8th grade - what do you think - as a parent I feel I have failed my child already because I trusted she was safer in that school than anywhere else! So talk about knowing the man - I trusted him with my child!

[Jeff]

Angry Mom,

I am sorry for what you are going through. I am the father of three boys and couldnt imagine how I would feel if something like that happened to them.

I agree with you...truth will prevail. And if he is guilty it will come as a shock to me. Ive seen numerous stories of how those who knew child molesters saying that the person they knew would never do something like that. Maybe its a dark secret that he had. Only time will tell.

My concern is how these allegations came about. Its been five years since these took place. Why wait so long to come out with it? The timing seems odd thats all.

As for three now, I havent heard about that, not that I would expect to. I guess more will be out there on his arraignment on Wednesday.

I will keep you and your daughters in prayer. While the accused is a good friend of mine, if these accusations are true, then he deserves to be put away for a long time. On the other hand if these are false, then those with the falsehoods should be punished as well.

[GUILTY OR INNOCENT]

I have seen both sides of a situation like this.A very close family member of mine was molested by a memeber of the same sex who also was a trusted family member.However I have also seen people spend time in prison for things children made up for attention.(NOT SAYING THIS IS THE CASE HERE).I could not imagine my child telling me things like that and if it was my child I would believe them.I KNOW GOD WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH NOT MAN!

[Jeff]

Odd how he has still yet to be charged. You are correct Guilty or Innocent. GOD and only GOD will reveal the truth. And the fact that they havent charged him with anything, shines a little light on the end of the tunnel.

If they had evidence of such things, then they would have charged him long ago. And this Angry Mom, who is now stating on this site that her kids were raped....well that is not even in the charges brought against the accused. I wonder how the detective in charge would look at this.

[kathy]

How interesting as to date that John has appeared in court twice to arraign him with no success, whats up with that? when they arraign 1000's per day. HMMM. Very interesting what happened yesterday in court when the Judge walked in, he was served with some papers from John and handed them the the deputy DA. She opened and started reading the documents and walked out of the court room with out saying anything. Then the judge read the papers and turned beet red, then he stormed out of the court room with the rest of the gang in tow????
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS FOLKS----HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A COURT ROOM EMPTY OUT LIKE TURNING ON THE LIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A BUNCH OF COCK ROACHES IN THE KITCHEN???????
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED-----NOW WHAT COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN, HMMMMMM----I WILL TELL YOU FOLKS----THE TRUTH SHOWED UP AND THE LIE'S SCATTERED LIKE FLY'S ON YOU KNOW WHAT. Then something very interesting folks, his $1.4 million dollar bond just happened overnight to be reduced to $400,000 HMMMMM----one million less----whats up with that????---Tell you what folks there's a rat in the wood pile and what do you do with rats, precisely. The court records are public knoweledge and accesible to anybody that can walk into the "clerk of courts" and get a copy of what was filed that made the fly's scatter HMMMMMM---VERY INTERESTING FOLKS----Follow this court case closly FOLKS cause the excitement is about to ramp up 10 knotches. PLEASE TELL OTHERS AND FOREWARD THIS SITE----TO THE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA SEND FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO GO GET COPIES OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS FROM THE "CLERK OF COURTS" case #KA078869--400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona CA.---HMMMMM Interesting Folks---John 8:32---"and you will know the Truth and the Truth will make you free"
Lord, we thank you in all that you are doing for Lord you are the Truth. Amen

[Fomer Youth Of John Asher]

I knew John and his family. He was my youth pastor there when it was life center and I went to the school so did my brother and sister. He seemed to be a nice guy but just some things about him did not seem right I don’t know what it was but it was something. He was a very nice guy. I hope he did not do it that would be sad he had a lot of kids that looked up to him as a youth pastor and I was one of them. That was the best youth group I had been in. When my sister went to school there he was principal there and he did not like her to much she would always get in trouble for things she did not do and she said he would always favor a few students I pray he did not favor them because he was doing things to them. If he did do these things I pray for the ones that were hurt. (TO JOHN) I hope you did not do these things I looked up to you. May God help you.

[Gerald]

Kathy:

You offer some strong statements and characterizations. Innocent until proven guilty is a court concept and not a public one. Not guilty is a court concept as well (who wants their daughter dating O.J.?)

It seems unfair to call the folks rats that are trying to take action based on horrific information they have been provided. My gut has told me from the beginning that something doesn't "smell" right here and that John maybe innocent. However, my gut is worthless for determining criminal facts.

If you saw all of this action in the court, why don't you disclose the outcome? Did he plead innocent? Was the arraignment reset? Have pre-trial dates been set? Did the judge order John not to leave the county or state? An arraignment is not rocket science. You have counsel (did he have counsel present?)and enter a plea. I have seen many arraignements reset. It not a big deal. The truth will set you free. However, is John free? If not, why?

Again, my gut says he will be. But, if there was such a SNAFU in courts, why does he still have a six figure bond?

[Gerald]

Please keep in mind that he may not have been charged because he was living in another state and was arrested in that state on fugative warrants.

[Gerald]

Next court date is 7/25.

Could it be that his bond was set at $1.4 million in NC and at his first hearing in CA it was reset by that judge because he was back in CA?

[kathy]

how can you be a fugative when the court was held on April 24th and they said the defendent is not present so the judge signed an arrest warrenr??---they never envited him or notified him of the court hearing---but label him a fugitive, go figure. NO NO and NO the judge reduced the bond overnight to limit his exposeure---I CAN'T SAY IT ANY CLEARER OR LOUDER---LOOK AT THE [PUBLIC] CLERK OF COURT RECORD AND SEE WHAT THE TRUTH HAD TO SAY THAT WOULD MAKE THE judge LOWER THE BOND---I KNOW EXACTLY WHY AND YOU NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT----SEND SOMEONE TO GET A COPY OF WHAT WAS FILED ON THE 17TH

[kathy]

he was arrested two days later on the 26th--how could he be a fugative on something he had no prior knowledge?----when the bond got lowered it was his second visit to the trading court

[kathy]

John had 11 unanounced visitors in court last week praying for him---i hope more come this wensday to see the show----i hope you can see the judge's reaction to the TRUTH that he is going to get served with tomorrow along with the deputy da, John 8:32

[Tom]

I agree with those of you who never got a good feeling about this guy. I felt he was underhanded about everything he did. He changed careers every time he turned around and never stuck to any one place or career for very long. The worst part is that he has been allowed to set up businesses and work with the public all over the country. His latest endeavor owning a franchise of hair salons only allows him access to lots of girls and several families. If this is all true he has got to be stopped!!

I do send out prayers to the family having to go through this horrible tragedy.