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Johnston pleads not guilty
An attorney for George Otis Johnston entered a not guilty plea to eight felony sexual abuse charges during his arraignment this morning.
Andy Wood, defense attorney, said his client wished to waive formal arraignment and entered the plea before Newton County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Perigo. Johnston appeared with his attorney, but did not speak during the brief proceeding.
Perigo then set a pre-trial conference for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, which will be held in his Division I courtroom.
Johnston, pastor of Grandview Valley Independent Baptist Church in Granby, is accused of seven unclassified felony counts of first degree statutory sodomy and one Class C felony charge of second degree statutory sodomy.
Johnston’s arraignment was originally scheduled for Sept. 28 before Newton County Division III Associate Circuit Court Judge Kevin Lee Selby. However, Selby recused himself from the case without giving a reason, and it went back to Judge Perigo.
The charges stem from a complaint alleged by a 17-year-old woman, who said she had been sexually abused from when she was 8 until she left the compound shortly after her last birthday this past April.
During a preliminary hearing Sept. 18, the young woman testified she was first sent to Johnston’s trailer at the age of 8, when she and her mother had a fight over the girl’s wish to begin shaving her legs.
The girl began living at the church’s compound – then located in Newtonia – when her mother married Johnston’s step-son. Children were often sent to Johnston’s trailer for discipline and counseling.
She said was sent to Johnston’s home several times a week over the next several years, and the pastor would often touch her beneath her clothing on those visits.
At about age 13, she testified, Johnston made her sit on his lap while he exposed himself.
The young woman also testified Johnston told her he was ordained by God, and it would tarnish her if she slept with another man.
“But if I slept with him, I would remain pure,” she said Johnston told her, adding she did not sleep with the pastor.
The woman testified she and other children in the compound referred to Johnston as “Grandpa,” even though she and others were not related to him.
Johnston is one of six church leaders facing charges in a sexual abuse scandal which involves two churches in Newton and McDonald Counties. Johnston’s nephew, Raymond Lambert, 51; his wife, Patty Lambert, 49; her brothers Paul Epling, 53; and Tom Epling, 51; and Tom Epling’s wife, Laura Epling, age unavailable, face a variety of sexual abuse charges, including felony child molestation and statutory sodomy. Patty Lambert also faces a felony charge of child endangerment.
All are free on bond.
Raymond Lambert is the pastor of Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church, located on a 100-acre farm near Powell. Lambert’s wife is also his step-sister, and the Epling brothers are his step-brothers.
Johnston will be back in court at 1:15 p.m. this afternoon for a preliminary hearing on nine more felony statutory sodomy charges.
These stem from allegations made by a 20-year-old woman, an older sister of the 17-year-old accuser. She is expected to take the witness stand this afternoon, and more on the case will be featured in our on-line edition today and in Tuesday’s print edition of the Neosho Daily News.
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