The state police in West Virginia are investigating a longtime youth pastor who has been charged with nearly 200 counts of sexual abuse involving children, many of whom are his relatives, dating back over 30 years.
John W. Radcliff II was arrested for a second time last week after officers revisited a case from 2004, when five of Mr. Radcliff's nieces reported that he had abused them. A complaint against him was initially filed in September.
One niece, Carla Rinehart, expressed confusion over why charges were not previously pursued, recalling that her relatives had not disclosed their experiences of abuse until years later. Rinehart, who shared her story after a hospitalization at 17, noted that her sister and cousins also recounted similar incidents.
According to a local TV station that cited court documents, Mr. Radcliff forced the girls to perform sexual acts from 1987 to 1996 and committed various other abuses until they were about 12 years old. All victims are now adults.
Mr. Radcliff faces charges in Lewis County, among three other counties, related to his alleged abuses. Rinehart stated that she was unaware of who filed the recent complaint in Nicholas County, which involves allegations from 2018 to 2019. She, along with her sister and cousins, approached police to support the victim after Mr. Radcliff's September arrest.
Mr. Radcliff, 57, has served as a youth pastor for several churches in West Virginia and is currently in custody with bonds totaling $1.7 million. It remains unclear if he is still serving in that role. His wife, Kathy Radcliff, has also been charged in connection to the case but has been released on bond. The couple declared bankruptcy last year, according to state records.
James Hawkins, a court-appointed attorney for Mr. Radcliff, stated that most charges originate from allegations made between 1987 and 1996 and are unrelated to his pastoral work. He indicated that his client could face a life sentence totaling over 100 years. Hawkins emphasized that the claims are uncorroborated and previously investigated, resulting in insufficient evidence for prosecution in 2004.
The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury in either March or July, while the investigation continues, with more victims reportedly coming forward, according to state police.