Reuben Lydell Mitchell, 43, pleaded no contest to one count of sexual battery between November 2005 and November 2006 against two girls who were former members of Koinenia Christ Community Church in Tracy, where Mitchell was a pastor. As a result of his plea, Mitchell was given three years of probation and 120 days in San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.
He will also have to register as a sex offender and stay away from the two girls.
After Mitchell gave his plea to San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson, those affected by Mitchell’s actions were invited to address the court.
One girl who says the pastor molested her told Stephenson about what the acts had meant in her life. She said she fell into risky behavior, and her relationship with her father was severed when he learned of the molestation.
“I lost my self-worth,” she told the judge. “It caused me great pain inside.”
The girl appeared with family members and started to cry midway through her statement. Mitchell, who sat next to attorney Melissa Adams (representing Mitchell’s attorney, Tim Rein), rubbed his eyes as the girl talked.
She said that for a while, she kept what Mitchell had done to her a secret, fearing that no one would believe her.
“Since I found out what happened with Reuben and my daughter, it has devastated me and my family,” the girl’s mother said, confirming that the molestation “caused strife” in the relationship between the girl and her father.
The girl’s mother said her father has “disowned her” and won’t allow her in his home.
The mother of the other teenage girl allegedly molested by Mitchell said that the pastor abused the trust of the girl and the family.
“We feel so alone, we can’t worship anywhere,” the mother said. “What do we hold onto?”
Citing the sensitive nature of the case, prosecutor Rob Martinelli declined to comment. Calls to Rein’s office were not immediately returned.
Mitchell was arrested Sept. 22, 2009, on suspicion of molestation after a woman called police, telling them about abuse she said had happened a few years earlier.
In December, three of the four charges against Mitchell were dropped. In that hearing, a 20-year-old woman testified that the pastor often hugged, kissed and caressed her inappropriately and once touched her breasts and vagina as she slept during a car ride when she was 16.
Another girl said in December that when she was 13, Mitchell kissed her on the lips while the two watched the movie “The Brave One.” Two years later, the girl said, Mitchell lifted up her shirt as she slept and kissed her lower back and her neck.
• Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4221 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.
Allegations of molestation can be very difficult to prove; typically there is no witness, the only account the police have is the victim's word. There's typically no evidence either. But a few recorded phone calls to the molester... from the victim(s) telling him they're thinking about going to the police.. and pervert pleading with them (or threatening them) not to contact the police.... boom! He (or she) is DONE. Many a pervert sitting in jail today on that one.. and rightfully so.
But just because thairs an exception, an thair is an exception in almost anythang in life, this incident certainly don't mean that all or most churches an thair pastors are up ta this type of despicable activity.
In fact, if ya polled th members of all churches, an this one in particular, ya'd probably find that virtually everyone feels pretty much as outraged as you do.
I hope these people don't give up on thair faith because they ran across someone bad that abused thair position of trust an ended up hurtin em. That's not th Church's fault or God's fault an only proves that sin can be found anywhare.
Thair are plenty of fine churches all over th city whair this sort of thang is not goin on but ya do have ta keep up yer guard as human beins will be humans.
I am a little dismayed these girls, who apparently members of this church an probably sat through several sermons about sin, did not immediately know somethang was wrong on thair first encounter with this man an apparently didn't have th courage or knowledge ta bring it out inta th open ta quickly correct this very bad situation.
Note, I said I was dismayed, I am not accusin these girls of doin anythang wrong an yes, I know how hard it is fer anyone, male or female, ta come forward ta deal with these thangs.
If ya see or hear of any funny business goin on ya need ta look inta it ta protect yer self an other around ya. Please always remember that Pastor, Deacon, Elder, Sunday School Teacher is just a human bein with th same types of social an mental problems facin all humans.
If yer pastor or church leaders are doin thangs that can't be legitimized by readin yer Bible, yer on pretty solid ground ta bring it out inta th open in yer church ta get it corrected.
An if yer church body don't want ta do anythang about it, then it's a pretty good bet yer in th wrong place an those people are not really follerin God's Word an are only thair fer some other, probably social, reason.
Clue, th purpose of a church is ta be a place ta worship an larn more about God so ya can get yer own personal life in order an right with God.
If yer thair only fer th socialization an entertainment, then yer probably thair fer th wrong reason an settin yerself up ta get hurt.
Most people, regardless of thair religious persuasions don't do this sort of thang, as we all pretty much understand it's not th socially acceptable thang ta do. People an pastors of churches pretty much have th same feelins.
So if yer afraid ta go ta a church fer fear this sort of thang is gonna happen ta ya again, ya probably should remember ya got about th same chances outside of th church environment an probably should refrain from going out an dealin with anyone, in or outa church.
I don't thank that anyone in thair right thankin mind would agree that sequesterin yerself an yer family in yer house, an fearin ta go outside ta mingle with others fer th rest of yer life, is a good an healthy idea.
Please, don't blame God fer th thoughts that Satan tempted this guy with, Satan does that ta all of us. Thang is that most of us are strong enough ta resist those temptations because we know it's wrong an will follow God's instruction rather than stoop ta our own lustful an human temptations.
Unfortunately though thair are some mentally sick people that just can't seem ta control thair actions an those are th people all of us need ta be lookin out fer so that no one else gets hurt.
I hope these people can get th comfort they need ta go on with thair lives without livin in constant fear. They don't have ta feel ashamed fer what happened to em, unless of course they were willin participants, which I strongly doubt.
An anyone that would blame them fer what happened ta em are really no better than th errant pastor that abused em. God willin they all change thair lives fer th better, accept th forgiveness that really only comes from God an all become better humans in th process.
If ya really look deep within yer own heart of hearts yer probably going ta see some thangs that need correctin in yer own lives as none of us are free from sin an th only one that can make up th difference is God.
Now before we go off on th anti-God statements that will no doubt foller this comment, ya are free ta believe th way ya want ta believe an if ya look inta th Bible it's God that freely gives ya that right. An if He gives ya that right who am I ta tell ya any different?
roselilydasiy wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 11:49 AM »
Innocent! The truth will be told. we support you 100% God is able to see you through. Praise him and give thanks in all things! trials come to make us strong!
« roselilydasiy wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 11:34 AM »
It is very sad that the young ladies only want to hurt this man who was only a father to them. they don't know how they are hurting his children who they say that they love so loved so much. I pray they speak the true when time comes. God knows everything. I think they have forgotten this while they were in church. I think thay have forgotten what real Love is, maybe they never knew Love or God?????? I love them anyway and pray they realize what they are doing.
Read more: Tracy Press - Pastor accused of sex abuse due in court in November
This man does not have the right to yank your faith in my risen lord and savior. He did some terrible things and violated your trust, but he doesn't have the right to block your visitations to church...ever.
One of my best friends was sexually molested by one of those vicious 'priests' down in SoCal back about twenty years ago. He sued them for $2 million, and is the stronger for it. Although money's not always the answer, boy, in my book it sure beats poverty.
It's your call, but don't forget the kind Lutherans. Our doors are open...and I don't mean your wallets, either.
Scott Tudehope
Teacher