Former Church Leader, Coach Accused Of Abusing Boys

NBC 4, Columbus/September 15, 2006

Logan, Ohio -- Accused of decades of abuse against area children, a former church leader and assistant baseball coach is behind bars. Now police said they think other victims are still out there.

Several months ago, Corrina Culbertson began suspecting her three sons were being molested by Chester Miller, a friend of her ex-husband, NBC 4's Erin Tate reported.

Miller was indicted last week in Hocking County on 20 counts of rape and gross sexual imposition involving five victims.

"He told them it was their secret, just between them," Culbertson said.

When Culbertson's sons, ages 10, 11 and 14, broke their silence, she found out that the alleged sexual abuse was worse than she thought.

"(It happened) night and morning, every other day before school," she said. "They didn't know it was happening to each other."

Culbertson claimed the abuse continued for more than a year.

"It took their life away," she said.

Now Culbertson said their bravery is helping other victims come forward.

"Three more male juveniles disclosed being sexually assaulted by Chester Miller," said Logan police Lt. Gregg Cluley.

Nine victims are speaking out against Miller's alleged legacy of abuse in Logan, where the suspect lives and has helped coach little league baseball.

For years, the victims said they were too ashamed to get help.

"He would buy them expensive gifts, take them out to eat, buy them clothes and give them money," Cluley said.

Police said Miller is also a former youth leader at an area church, where he is accused of molesting a boy during a church outing in 1980.