Suspect in lewd proposals turns self in to police
BY AMANDA BLAND & JARREL WADE World Staff Writers
Friday, September 21, 2012
9/21/12 at 7:11 AM
A former Victory Christian Center employee who is accused of lewd or indecent proposals to a child surrendered Thursday at the Tulsa Jail.
Israel Shalom Castillo, 23, was arrested and booked by deputies at 10:45 a.m., Tulsa Police Officer Leland Ashley said.
Investigators believe that Castillo left Tulsa during the weeks between when a rape reportedly occurred at the church Aug. 13 and when the allegation was reported to police Aug. 30. Castillo later returned to Tulsa and asked a lawyer to tell the police he would turn himself in, child crisis detectives said Wednesday.
Castillo, 23, is alleged to have had "a sexual indiscretion" with a 15-year-old girl, records show. An affidavit filed last week outlines a sexual proposition the girl alleges she received from him through Facebook. She and Castillo later told Victory Christian Center employees about the messages, the document says.
The girl met Castillo while attending summer camp at the church's Camp Victory, the affidavit says.
Castillo is being held in lieu of $70,000 bail on charges of lewd or indecent proposals to a child and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime.
Victory Christian declined to comment Thursday on Castillo's arrest.
Chris Denman, 20, also a former church employee, is charged with first-degree rape of a minor, forcible oral sodomy of a minor, lewd molestation and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime. He remains in jail with bail set at $200,000.
Castillo's attorney, Hugh Hood, said Castillo left Tulsa for his family's home in Texas after losing his job at Victory Christian.
Hood said Castillo returned to Tulsa and contacted him last week.
Hood said he told investigators that Castillo would turn himself in if charges are filed.
Castillo came back to Tulsa with his family Wednesday night and stayed at a hotel before turning himself in Thursday morning, Hood said.
"This is not the behavior of someone who is fleeing a jurisdiction or being in any way uncooperative," Hood said. "Mr. Castillo has been ordered back to court next week and looks forward to entering a plea of not guilty."
Hood also said he has not seen any evidence that links Castillo's charges with the crimes alleged against Denman.
Five Victory Christian Center staff members, including Senior Pastor Sharon Daugherty's son and daughter-in-law, were charged with failing to report child abuse in the case. Paul Willemstein, 32, Anna George, 24, Harold Frank Sullivan, 73, Charica Dene Daugherty, 27, and John Samuel Daugherty, 28, were jailed on the misdemeanor charges shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. They posted bond and were released within hours of their arrests.
The pending felony charges against Denman and Castillo allege that three teen age girls were the victims of sex crimes.
Police are investigating whether others connected with the church might have been targeted by the men, as well.
Officials with the church said in a statement that they are working with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to evaluate the church's reporting process and will perform a full review of its policies to ensure the safety of the church's children and youths.
Amanda Bland 918-581-8413 Jarrel Wade 918-581-8367
amanda.bland@tulsaworld.com jarrel.wade@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Israel Shalom Castillo: He surrendered at the Tulsa Jail on charges that include lewd or indecent proposals to a child
|
