Area Pastor Facing More Charges
By: Jim Madalinsky
Updated: January 18, 2013
Longtime Mount Union area pastor Jeffrey Winstead is facing even more charges stemming from a sexual relationship with an underage girl. The 56 year-old Winstead was charged a week ago with 3 counts of aggravated indecent assault of a minor.
Then, the Pennsylvania State Police say they uncovered more crimes, raising the felony counts to more than 40.
"It was a relationship that is longer than originally thought. The number of counts and I think we have 20 counts of corruption of a minor, that's based on the number of occurrences over the timeframe in question," Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic says,
Since the new incidents were allegedly in Huntingdon County, the case has shifted from Mifflin to Huntingdon County.
According to police documents, Winstead admitted to the relationship last week that started when the girl was 14 and lasted more than a year.
"We're taking this case very seriously. The charges are serious and the occupation of the defendant makes it even more serious," Zanic says.
The case has caught the attention of the Huntingdon House, an advocacy center for victims of sexual abuse. They try to help victims understand right from wrong.
"They're at a very vulnerable age and they don't realize what is wrong. Is this right? Is this wrong? So you have to be out there teaching them the difference," Executive Director Shanna Leonard says,
For 27 years, the Huntingdon House has been helping young people get through things like what allegedly happened at Cedar Crest Baptist Church.
"If you feel unsafe you need to let somebody know. If it feels wrong it's wrong," Leonard says.
Winstead had been the pastor there for 24 years, and his son has actually helped take over since his arrest.
If convicted of those 2 rape charges, Winstead could go away for 40 years. He is being held in Huntingdon County Prison after being unable to pay his $250,000 bail.
Then, the Pennsylvania State Police say they uncovered more crimes, raising the felony counts to more than 40.
"It was a relationship that is longer than originally thought. The number of counts and I think we have 20 counts of corruption of a minor, that's based on the number of occurrences over the timeframe in question," Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic says,
Since the new incidents were allegedly in Huntingdon County, the case has shifted from Mifflin to Huntingdon County.
According to police documents, Winstead admitted to the relationship last week that started when the girl was 14 and lasted more than a year.
"We're taking this case very seriously. The charges are serious and the occupation of the defendant makes it even more serious," Zanic says.
The case has caught the attention of the Huntingdon House, an advocacy center for victims of sexual abuse. They try to help victims understand right from wrong.
"They're at a very vulnerable age and they don't realize what is wrong. Is this right? Is this wrong? So you have to be out there teaching them the difference," Executive Director Shanna Leonard says,
For 27 years, the Huntingdon House has been helping young people get through things like what allegedly happened at Cedar Crest Baptist Church.
"If you feel unsafe you need to let somebody know. If it feels wrong it's wrong," Leonard says.
Winstead had been the pastor there for 24 years, and his son has actually helped take over since his arrest.
If convicted of those 2 rape charges, Winstead could go away for 40 years. He is being held in Huntingdon County Prison after being unable to pay his $250,000 bail.
