A Staunton judge Tuesday certified to grand jury child molestation charges against a church leader, relaxing the wrung hands and pursed lips of the victims’ families.
Steven Bruce Joplin, 59, of Middlebrook, faces seven counts of aggravated sexual battery of a minor under age 13.
Staunton police said Joplin molested a girl in July and August at Christ United Methodist Church, where he served as the director of Christian education. The church is located at 1512 Churchville Ave.
After arresting Joplin on Aug. 21 on charges he molested a 10-year-old girl, police found there were four more victims, authorities said.
Joplin used his office as a space to take advantage of five victims, Staunton police Investigator Chad Nestor said in court Tuesday. Nestor said Joplin confessed to molesting other little girls.
“It was kind of a long, drawn-out interview,” Nestor said. “He said [the] kids would sit on his lap and he’d show them pictures [on his computer]. He said he had a rush of guilt when he did it, that he knew it was wrong.”
The five victims, ranging from 10 to 13, sat in court with their families. Each testified against Joplin.
After a motion by the attorneys, Judge Jannene L. Shannon asked reporters to leave the courtroom during the victims’ testimonies.
In his interview with police Joplin cited his strained marriage as the crux of his problem, Nestor said.
Defense attorney Frank Mika tried unsuccessfully to strike two of Joplin’s charges.
According to a biography no longer available at the Christ United Methodist Church Web site, Joplin served eight years as Staunton District Youth Coordinator and previously worked at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lexington and Greenville United Methodist Church. He often directed teen and youth programs and led mission trips abroad. Joplin is married with two children, according to the biography.
Efforts to reach the Rev. Robert Edwards, of Christ United, were unsuccessful.
Joplin’s case is scheduled to go before the grand jury Oct. 19. Until then he remains free on bond.
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