Former Wisconsin Rapids youth pastor pleads guilty to child sexual assault – Wausau Pilot & Review
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Wausau Pilot & Review
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A former youth pastor at a central Wisconsin church has pleaded guilty to repeatedly sexually assaulting a child, a case brought to light through a statewide initiative aimed at uncovering abuse by clergy and faith leaders.
James Lane, 53, who served as a youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids, admitted to sexually assaulting the same child multiple times between September 2002 and December 2003, according to a joint statement issued Friday by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Wood County District Attorney Jonathan Barnett.
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Lane pleaded guilty on April 8 in Wood County Circuit Court. A sentencing hearing is set for June 3. He faces up to 40 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, the assaults took place in Lane’s vehicle as he drove the victim home from church-related activities. The victim did not report the abuse to church officials or law enforcement at the time. Instead, they later submitted a report through the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative website, which led to a criminal investigation and charges.
“As this conviction shows, the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative is continuing to have an impact,” Kaul said in the release. “Thank you to the courageous survivor whose decision to make a report has led to accountability for the defendant.”
The initiative was launched in April 2021 to encourage survivors of abuse by faith leaders to come forward. Now in its fourth year, the effort has resulted in criminal charges in three cases. Two have led to convictions, while the third was dismissed following the defendant’s death. Another report led to the addition of a priest’s name to a diocesan list of those with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse.
In addition to criminal investigations, the initiative connects survivors with victim services and continues to collect reports that will inform a final summary report.
Survivors, their friends or family members, and anyone with information about clergy or faith leader abuse in Wisconsin are encouraged to file a report at supportsurvivors.widoj.gov.
For immediate assistance or to report abuse by clergy or a faith leader, individuals can also contact the Wisconsin DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services at 1-800-446-6564.
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