Sexual assault allegations against a Pennsylvania judge who also served as a leader for the Royal Rangers church program are the latest among a series of recent claims involving the program.

The Royal Rangers program, which works with boys ages K-12 and says on its website that it aims to “evangelize, equip and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders,” had a history of previous sexual abuse allegations prior to the latest accusations.

In 2018, six men from Oregon filed a lawsuit against the Albany First Assembly church, alleging they were sexually abused as children, some as young as 10 years old, in the 1980s by two Royal Rangers youth leaders. Similar claims were made in a separate lawsuit in 2016.

Attorneys who filed the 2018 complaint alleged the youth leaders “abused their position of leadership, trust, and respect as church leaders and mentors to repeatedly sexually abuse all six of these boys” and said both men were ultimately convicted of child sexual abuse in 1988.

The six people who filed the lawsuit said they were members of the Royal Rangers program and three of the men said they were abused after allegations of abuse had been reported by the father of one of the boys.

A $5 million civil lawsuit was also filed against the Albany First Assembly Church involving accusations that an unnamed victim was sexually abused from 1984 to 1987.

Now, the most recent accusations out of Pennsylvania invole the alleged sexual assault of a young boy – and authorities believe there may be other victims.

Perry County Magisterial District Judge Michael Schechterly, 58, faces charges of unlawful contact with children, corruption of minors and indecent assault, according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Pennsylvania State Police began investigating Schechterly after concerns from community members who reported he would bring children into his district court office and home regularly. Authorities noted Schechterly was in contact with several children through the Royal Rangers program at his church, where he served as “Commander Mike.”

The sexual assault allegations involve a 12-year-old boy at Schechterly’s home. Additionally, someone reported seeing Schechterly touch his genitals while in the presence of a child, a release from Shapiro’s office stated.

“Serious allegations show this judge violated the trust that the citizens of Perry County placed in him by sexually abusing a little boy,” Shapiro said in a statement. “There may be other victims. If you have any information about Michael Schechterly, please call the Pennsylvania State Police hotline at 717-881-6937. We will hold the powerful and well-connected accountable to law just like everyone else. My office will investigate and prosecute anyone who abuses their authority to harm Pennsylvanians, no matter what position of power they may hold.”

The Royal Rangers website says one of the steps church leaders need to take is “to review current policies and be prepared to take additional steps to protect minors” among other ways to manage the risk of child molestation in churches.

Attorneys working with Top Class Actions are looking to speak with anyone in the following states who believes they may have experienced sexual abuse of any kind while in the Royal Rangers program:

• California
• North Carolina
• New York
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.