Ex-Sisters pastor convicted on abuse charges

KTVZ News, Oregon/February 2, 2007

After one full day of deliberation, a Deschutes County jury found a former Sisters pastor guilty on all six charges Friday in the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl whose family worshiped at the church.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Sullivan set a Feb. 20 sentencing date for Jeremy Shane Hall in the September 2005 fondling of the teen.

The former pastor of Christ Church of New Beginnings was convicted of five counts of sex abuse and one count of unlawful sexual penetration. Hall now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of six years and three months in prison.

Deputy District Attorney Victoria Roe told jurors the teen was babysitting Hall's daughter the night he touched her sexually, both over and under her clothes.

Hall admitted getting into bed with the teen and his two young children who were sleeping in his room, but denied fondling the girl. His attorney, John Halpern Jr., pointed out during closing arguments that the defendant's daughter had testified nothing happened.