Church leader jailed again Friday

A youth activities director for a Staunton church was jailed Friday on five new felony molestation charges involving pre-teen girls.

Steven Bruce Joplin, 59, of Middlebrook, now faces seven counts of aggravated sexual battery of a minor younger than 13. He was first arrested Aug. 21 on two counts for alleged actions with a 10-year-old girl.

Interviews this week led to charges involving four more victims, ages 10, 11, and 12, said Staunton police spokeswoman Officer Lisa Klein.

Police said the molestations occurred this year, mostly at Christ United Methodist Church, where Joplin worked as director of Christian education.

Joplin was released from jail on a $30,000 bond Monday evening. Staunton police on Friday afternoon transported him back to Middle River Regional Jail in Verona, where he was to be held without bond, Klein said.

Asked if more charges were expected, Klein would say only that the “investigation continues.”

According to a biography at the church’s 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 frequently directed teen and youth programs and led mission trips abroad. Joplin is married with two children, according to the biography.

He awaits a Sept. 28 preliminary hearing in Staunton Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Aggravated sexual battery carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.

Joplin, his family and the pastor of Christ United Methodist Church could not be reached Friday.