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GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! Report Classification: Public Subject: Robin Andrews Current Church: Christ Apostolic Temple The Light of Hannibal Allegations: Failure to report child sexual assault, failure to report adult sexual abuse involving incestuous abuse by a father against his biological daughter, and failure to remove accused child sexual abuser from leadership of children in the church. Investigation Start Date: March 24, 2022 Report compiled by: Bishop Demetrius J. Sinegal - Investigator & Author Bre’Onna Stoney - Co-investigator Edited by: Kisha Bowser, LPC - Senior Case Manager
2 Table of Contents Case Summary
Page 3
Subject background
Page 3
Primary Allegations
Page 3
Additional Allegations
Page 3
Investigation Background & Allegations
Page 4
Background Overview
Page 4
Investigation Summary
Page 4
Key Limitations
Page 4
Primary Findings
Page 5 & 6
Timeline of Events
Page 6
Investigative narrative detail
Page 6-8
Subject’s response
Page 9
Recommendations & conclusions
Page 9
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I.
Case Summary Subject Background This investigation relates to allegations made against Robin Andrews, also known as Pastor Robin, herein after known as “subject” and Christ Apostolic Temple #3 The Light of Hannibal, herein after known as “subject’s church.” Subject is the senior pastor of Christ Apostolic Temple #3 The Light of Hannibal. Subject has remained an avid supporter of Bishop Dwight Reed amidst his contracted abuse for marriage to his teenage adolescent bride and numerous allegations of gross clergy abuse, intimidation, and harassment. According to testimony from a primary victim and three primary witnesses, subject did knowingly and actively conceal allegations of sexual assaults on minor children perpetrated by the subject’s adult biological daughter, Robyn Michelle Harden, who, upon information and belief, was between the ages of 33-37 during the time of the alleged sexual assaults. Upon information and belief subject did also fail to report adult sexual abuse involving the ongoing incestuous rape of a female member by her biological father, a deacon in the church when she was ages 19 through 21.On March 24, 2022, Safehouse #Unmuzzled was made aware of the allegations against subject and the various instances of the gross abuse of power to suppress accusations of abuse within subject’s church.
Primary Allegations 1.
Allegation #1 - Subject did suppress testimony and accusations lodged against her biological daughter, Robyn Michelle Harden, the youth pastor, of predatory sexual misconduct, rape, and molestation against minors. Subject did fail to report the allegations to legal authorities. According to Missouri Section 210.115, RSMO a minister as provided by section 352.400, RSMo. “When any individual identified above has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately report.” 2. Allegation #2 - Subject failed to report allegations of adult sexual abuse involving incest perpetrated by one of the deacons in her church against his biological daughter allegedly resulting in two pregnancies. 3. Allegation #3- Subject failed to remove accused predators from church leadership positions including positions directly involving minor children.
Additional Allegations 4. Allegation #4 - Subject used pastoral authority and privilege to publicly embarrass, shame, and intimidate one of the primary victims.
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II. Investigation Background & Allegations Background overview The scope of #Unmuzzled’s investigation includes events that date back over the course of 10 years. Details regarding the key facts of the investigation, procedures performed, and any limitations are as follows:
Investigation Summary 1. Dates of Investigation - 3/24/2022 - 5/18/2022 2. Evidentiary Support A. Phone Interviews - Two primary victim phone interviews & formal statements - Two primary witness phone interviews & formal statements B. Multimedia Review - Audio recordings - Screenshots C. Document Review - Criminal records & charges
Key Limitations On March 24, 2022 during the weekly “Safehouse #Unmuzzled Clubhouse conversation” held via the Clubhouse app, a primary witness spoke publicly and on record concerning the deliberate and active cover up of child sexual abuse by leadership within the church. This prompted an investigation by Safehouse #Unmuzzled. This investigation however began amidst a tedious investigation and media campaign against Dwight Reed & Christ Apostolic Temple; the “presiding Bishop” and parent church of this subject and subject’s church. This ongoing investigation, limited resources, and volunteers presented obstacles for our investigation. Dwight Reed’s deliberate measures to intimidate potential witnesses from speaking out by verbally attacking them over the pulpit and social media initially made it difficult for Safehouse #Unmuzzled to obtain further witness testimony. Initially our investigation only involved primary witnesses, however, in the case of such allegations it is our goal to obtain the testimony of primary victim(s) where possible. On April 6, 2022, we were able to obtain primary victim testimony on record. One of the alleged victims of the childhood abuse died by suicide and it is alleged that it is a result of preexisting mental health concerns that were aggravated by the sexual abuse. Another of the alleged victims did not want to participate in the investigation due to inter-family conflict and potential confrontations.
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III. Primary Findings 1. Allegation #1 - Subject did suppress testimony and accusations lodged against her biological daughter, Robyn Michelle Harden, the youth pastor/director, of predatory sexual misconduct, rape, and molestation against minors. Subject did fail to report the allegations to legal authorities. — THIS ALLEGATION IS SUBSTANTIATED. a. Violation: Failure to report child sexual assault b. Evidentiary support: (1) Evidentiary support #1 includes corroborating statements by a primary victim and two primary witnesses. The two primary witnesses were able to provide supporting testimony as to the primary victim’s statement as they each made personal attempts to get subject to hold her daughter accountable, to no avail. (2) Evidentiary support #2 includes audio recording from August 24, 2019 in which a primary witness met with subject and subject’s Bishop to address the primary witness’s concerns/grievances. During that meeting, the primary witness was told “that’s family business and we should leave it alone” and that since “he’s dead there’s no reason to speak on him. He’s gone on and no one should be bringing his name into nothing.” Subject also said “whether it is true or a lie, God is saving human beings. The church is a hospital, and it is for all of us to get help. Everyone has sin in their background. He who is without sin the first stone… But for someone to target a person and try to kill them publicly is wrong, because everybody has a past…” Subject went on to say “there are certain things that are private to families, and for people to run around and say it and not have all information and facts totally correct, okay. When people don’t have facts totally correct then people begin assuming, and adding, and all these types of stuff…” 2. Allegation #2 - Subject failed to report allegations of adult sexual abuse involving incest perpetrated by one of the deacons in her church, Leon Randall, against his biological daughter allegedly resulting in two pregnancies. — THIS ALLEGATION IS SUBSTANTIATED. a. Violation: Failure to report adult sexual abuse involving incestuous abuse by a father against his biological daughter. b. Evidentiary Support: 1. Evidentiary support #1 includes corroborating statements by primary victim and two primary witnesses. The two primary witnesses were able to provide supporting testimony as to the primary victim’s statement as they each made personal attempts to get subject to hold her daughter accountable, to no avail. 2. Evidentiary support #2 includes audio recording from August 24, 2019 in which a primary witness met with subject and subject’s Bishop to address the primary witness’s concerns/grievances regarding the alleged incestuous abuse between a deacon and his biological daughter. During that meeting, the primary witness received the following reply: “Leon raped who? Leon raped who? He raped his daughter? Leon raped who? He raped her? That’s what SHE said…she talking about she didn’t know any better [having sex with her father]?…that’s not rape. That’s somebody’s private business. Where are you even learning that from? That’s a private family matter.” 3. Allegation #3 - Subject failed to remove accused predators from church leadership positions including positions directly involving minor children. — THIS ALLEGATION IS SUBSTANTIATED. a.
Violation: Failure to remove accused child sexual abuser from leadership of children in the church.
6 b. Evidentiary Support 1. Evidentiary support #1 includes corroborating statements by four primary witnesses. 2. Evidentiary support #2 includes screenshots from the Christ Apostolic Temple #3 The Light of Hannibal youth ministry Facebook page, “C.B.C. Created by Christ Youth Department, which subject’s daughter, Robyn Michelle Harden, still administrates as of the publishing of this report under Facebook name “Queenchelle Bernard”. 3. Evidentiary support #3 includes corroborating statements by four primary witnesses that now convicted child sex offender Leon Randall was appointed director of subject’s church’s nursery while awaiting arraignment for charges of child sexual abuse perpetrated on another step-daughter/minor child not named in this report, etc. 4. Allegation #4 - Subject used pastoral authority and privilege to publicly embarrass, shame, and intimidate one of the primary victims. — THIS ALLEGATION IS SUBSTANTIATED a. Violation: Abuse of pastoral authority b. Evidentiary Support 1. Evidentiary support #1 includes corroborating statements by four primary witnesses.
IV. Timeline of Events Date
Description
September 2011
Subject learns of adult sexual abuse involving incest.
2011
Initial report made to subject of child sexual abuse perpetrated by subject’s daughter and subject’s church’s youth pastor.
2019
Subject (and subject’s bishop [add this for continuity w/earlier statement]) confronted by primary witness regarding child sexual abuse.
June 01, 2019
Child predator and church deacon accused of adult sexual abuse involving incest against his biological daughter is charged with statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy - deviate sexual intercourse - person less than 12 years old
V. Investigative narrative detail Victim #1 - Sexual abuse involving incest, (primary witness) Child sexual abuse - Victim #1 is also primary witness #1 to the suppression and failure by the Subject and the Subject’s bishop to report child sexual abuse of victim #2. In April 2010 victim moved to Hannibal, MO after a life of sexual abuse in the foster care system. The following details were reported to Safehouse #Unmuzzled concerning the victim’s background and subsequent experiences at subject’s church. At the age of seven, victim was molested by parties unrelated to this investigation 7. At age 13 and for several years thereafter, the victim was raped by parties unrelated to this investigation while in the foster care system. She was impregnated by her rapist at age 18 and again at age 19. According to the victim the foster parents were complicit in the abuse and in protecting the rapist. In 2009, the victim located her biological father (hereinafter referred to as abuser #1 and thought that he would be an escape from the abusive foster family she had grown up in. She moved to Hannibal, MO in April 2010 to live with her father. The victim believed her father to be a born again Christian due to his leadership position as a “faithful” deacon in the church. • Shortly thereafter abuser #1 began sexually assaulting her. Though at the time the victim was 19 years old, her prolonged exposure to sexual abuse, rape, and molestation along with additional adverse childhood experiences seem to have significantly altered the victim’s ability to make good moral judgements in the context of appropriate sexual boundaries.
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Reframing sexual abuse as consensual is one of the ways a victim makes sense of and compartmentalizes the act in order to move forward in life. More is explained in this article. Victim was impregnated by abuser #1,her biological father, in 2010. She had a miscarriage at 6 months. Abuser #1’s wife left him that year which allowed him to increase his sexual abuse of the victim, his biological dauther. Victim was impregnated by her biological father again in 2011. Shortly thereafter, he moved her to St. Louis, MO. Victim carried this child to term and the child died shortly after birth. At 21 years old victim heard a sermon by subject in which subject said, “…No child should let themselves be touched by an adult and if anyone does you should tell.” Following this church service, victim approached subject to report what was going on between she and her biological father. Victim reports that subject asked the church if there was anyone who would let victim move in with them. A family in the church allowed victim to move in with them. Sometime after, victim’s biological father remarried. Victim begin noticing concerning behaviors from her abuser’s new stepdaughter, who was 11 or 12 years old at the time. Victim later caught abuser #1 fondling his stepdaughter’s chest. Victim reports that she immediately went to report what she witnessed to the subject who told her “I don’t think that’s what he was doing.” Thereafter victim approached the stepsister to ask if abuser #1 had been touching her. The child confirmed that he had and that he had attempted to penetrate her but was unsuccessful. Victim immediately reported this to subject. Victim reports that subject’s response to her was, “Calm down. There’s nothing we can do and she has to go home tonight.” Victim reported the abuse to her friend in the church who went to approach subject. Subject threatened to put victim out of the church if she didn’t “shut her mouth.
• Abuser #1 was later arrested in 2019 for sexually assaulting his minor stepdaughter • In 2011 victim returned to Hannibal, MO and victim #2 reported to victim #1 the sexual assault he had experienced by subject’s daughter, the church’s youth pastor. Victim #2 - Child sexual abuse - Victim provided testimony on record dating back over 10 years of his sexual abuse by subject’s daughter (hereinafter referred to as abuser #2) who was and still is the youth pastor/director at subject’s church. The following details were reported to #Unmuzzled concerning the victim’s sexual abuse. Victim reports that the subject assigned abuser #2 to “watch over him and keep him in church” as abuser #2 was the youth pastor at subject’s church. Victim began assisting abuser #2 with her children at her home. The victim and abuser #2 began to “horse play” and victim reports that subject’s daughter “began to twerk on him,” and the abuse escalated from there. • Victim was living with subject during this time. He left abuser #2’s home to return to subject’s house to take a shower. After showering, he returned to the house of abuser #2 to engage in sexual activity. • Victim reports that abuser #2 began to kiss him and that led to him performing oral sex on abuser #2. • Victim says they began having sex and abuser #2’s husband returned home, bringing the sexual abuse for that night to an end. • Victim is the biological brother of abuser #2’s husband. The brothers were not raised together as abuser #2’s husband is older and had previously been incarcerated. • Victim reports that from that time forward he was sexually abused by abuser #2 and believes that he is the biological father of abuser #2’s 10-year-old daughter • Victim reports that the sexual abuse began when he was 15 years old and one month before his 16th birthday. • Victim #2 reports that abuser #2 was approximately 32 years old when the abuse began. • Victim #2 reports that the sexual abuse went on “for several years.” • Victim #2 reports that he never personally reported the abuse to subject but that after he was
8 approached by victim #1 to ask if abuser #2 had ever sexually advanced on him he confirmed it to victim #1, who then reported the abuse to subject. • After victim #1 reported victim #2’s abuse to subject, victim #2 left subject’s church never to return. • Victim #2 wishes to file criminal charges against abuser #2 and asks that Safehouse #Unmuzzled executive director accompany him to file the police report and to act as his advocate. • Victim #2 wants to petition the courts for a paternity test of abuser #2’s 10-year old daughter.. Primary Witness #2 - Sexual abuse involving incest, (primary witness), Child sexual abuse - Primary witness provided formal statement on record as well as detailed recorded testimony via the Safehouse Clubhouse room of having confronted subject about the sexual abuse involving incest of victim #1 and the child sexual abuse involving victim #2 as well as an additional victim who is now deceased by alleged suicide after the sexual abuse. Primary witness #2 provided evidence that subject and subject’s Bishop, Dwight Reed, did deliberately and actively suppress the allegations of sexual abuse of both victim #1 and victim #2, and used pastoral power to silence, intimidate, and ostracize victim #1 Primary Witness #3 - Sexual abuse involving incest, (primary witness), Child sexual abuse (primary witness) - Primary witness #3 provided formal statement on record as well as detailed recorded testimony via the Safehouse #Unmuzzled Clubhouse room of having confronted subject about the sexual abuse involving incest of victim #1 and the child sexual abuse involving victim #2 as well as an additional victim who is now deceased Primary Witness #4 - Child sexual abuse (primary witness) - Primary witness #4 provided formal detailed statement on record of having personally witnessed abuser #2 sexualizing her relationship with victim #2 as well as two other victims. One of the other victims has no desire to be involved in the investigation and the third victim committed suicide after the sexual abuse. Primary witness #4 was a child and lived with abuser #2 over the course of the sexual abuse. • Witnessed abuser #2 dancing sexually on victim #2. • Witnessed victim #2 frequently trafficking in and out of abuser #2’s home and bedroom at late hours of the night. • Witnessed abuser #2 insight competition between victim #2 as well as the other two victims in order to compete for abuser #2’s attention. • Witnessed and personally experienced spiritual abuse from abuser #2 as a young member of abuser #2’s youth group at subject’s church. • Stated that each time abuser #2’s husband was released from jail abuser #2 would deliberately craft a narrative that each of the victim’s were “crazy, needing to be on medicine, etc…” to prevent her husband from discovery the sexualized relationships. • Witnessed subject use the pulpit to intimidate victims and witnesses that were beginning to talk about the sexual abuse being perpetrated by subject’s daughter. Primary Witness #5 - Child sexual abuse (primary witness), Sexual abuse involving incest Primary witness #5 provided formal detailed statement on record of having witnessed inappropriate romanticized relationship between victim #2 and abuser #2. • Primary witness #5 also states that they are a victim of gross clergy abuse. They state that they provided testimony to subject of physical, emotional, and mental abuse they were experiencing from a leader in subject’s church. Primary witness #5 says they were told by subject that it was their fault and that they should repent. Witness #5 states that subject told them they had no grounds to leave the marriage. • Witness states that they reported to subject concerns of child sexual abuse by subject’s daughter. • Witness states that they reported to subject concerns of sexual abuse involving incest by abuser #1 and was told that they were “crazy and out of their mind.”
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VI. Subject’s response Due to the nature of the allegations, the subject’s Bishop’s history of active intimidation and threats, and the supporting evidentiary support, Safehouse #Unmuzzled did not make any attempt to initiate contact with subject.
VII. Recommendations and conclusions #Safehouse Unmuzzled recommends the following for relevant religious communities & law enforcement agencies: • Subject should be charged under Section 210.135 RSMo as a mandated reporter who failed to report the sexual abuse of a minor child. • Subject should be immediately removed from pastoral leadership for deliberately covering up child sexual abuse perpetrated by subject’s daughter (abuser #2), thus making subject an accomplice in the abuse (1 Samuel 2:27-4:22). • Abuser #1 should be charged with incest under § 568.020. • Abuser #2 should be charged with second-degree statutory rape and second-degree sodomy under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 566.034, 566.064 (2018). • Abuser #2 should be removed as youth pastor and never permitted to serve in ministry involving children again. • Religious community leaders in subject’s community are requested to endorse Safehouse #Unmuzzled’s report, findings, and recommendations. • Any social services organizations, sponsors, or partners of subject’s church, outreach, or youth ministries should inactivate partnerships and sponsorships pending criminal proceedings. • For all relevant communities and institutions to implement the following for all pastors, youth leaders, ministerial staff, and volunteers: • A code of conduct, sexual harassment policy, and community bill of rights • An abuse reporting system and investigative process • A current list of social services made available to members within your community • Funding for persons who experience abuse within your system and/or organization • Mandatory annual training on ministerial ethics, adult clergy abuse, child sexual abuse prevention, and mandatory reporting. • Mandatory training on trauma informed care for churches and all persons serving in leadership roles within the church. • If you or someone you know has been a victim of predatory clergy sexual misconduct or of gross clergy abuse (i.e.: suppression of reports of sexual abuse, etc) by subject, or another religious community leader please contact Safehouse #Unmuzzled via help@safehouseunmuzzled.com