WASHINGTON — Three Maryland men, including the head pastor of a Prince George’s County church and a Capitol Police officer, have been charged with sexually abusing four teen girls involved in a church-run program for at-risk youth.
Prince George’s County police said that the teens were abused between 2001 and 2008 when they were 15–18 years old, and that they came forward as adults.
Police have arrested Joshua Wright, 67, of Brandywine, who is the head pastor of the church; his son William Wright of White Plains, a minister at the church; and Donald Jackson, also of White Plains, the pastor’s son-in-law.
William Wright is also a Capitol Police officer, according to charging documents. Eva Malecki, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, told WTOP that Wright has been taken off duty.
All three men are charged with child abuse, assault and sex offenses. Both Jackson and William Wright admitted to police that they engaged in sex acts with the teens, according to charging documents.
Police said the teens were enrolled in the Children Having Overcoming Power program run by the Oxon Hill Assembly Of Jesus Christ in Fort Washington, Maryland. Under the program for “at-risk youth,” the teens lived in the homes of church members and took classes at the church.
According to charging documents, the teens were placed in the men’s homes, where they reported being regularly sexually abused. Police said abuse also took place in parks and at the church.
The church program ended in 2011. Police are asking anyone else who participated in the church program and were abused to speak with investigators.
You can call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Unit at 301-772-4930. Callers who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com.
WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report.
