A former West Virginia youth pastor is facing a staggering 191 child sex abuse charges. John Radcliff has been charged in four different counties for crimes that allegedly occurred between 1987 and 2003.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
According to WDTV, Radcliff was originally arrested in September for child sex crimes that allegedly occurred in 2018 and 2019. Following Radcliff’s arrest, more victims came forward, and a sprawling investigation ensued.
Authorities have identified victims in the West Virginian counties of Lewis, Harrison, Braxton and Nicholas.
RELATED: Ohio Pastor of 35 Years Charged With Child Sex Crimes
The charges against Radcliff include 56 counts of first degree sexual assault, 15 counts of first degree sexual abuse, 63 counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, 56 counts of incest, and one count of display of obscene material to a minor.
The court documents did not disclose where Radcliff served as a youth pastor but said that he was “a preacher and led a youth ministry” and that he was “viewed as a father figure” by the victims.
Radcliff is accused of abusing multiple girls, beginning when they were just 3 or 4 years old. Several of the alleged victims are Radcliff’s own nieces.
All of the girls, who are now adults, told investigators that Radcliff made them perform sexual acts on him and sexually assaulted them in other ways throughout their childhoods.
According to WBOY, one victim said that when she was 8 years old, Radcliff put her hand down his pants and “began ‘teaching her’ how to stimulate a man.”
