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Posted: 12:26 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 2012

Two Victory Christian employees, at least 3 possible victims involved in rape, molestation case

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Victory Christian Center, Tulsa
Victory Christian Center, Tulsa

By Russell Mills

TULSA, Okla. —

UPDATE: Victory Christian Center has said it will make a statement Friday afternoon regarding the ongoing investigation into at least two of its employees regarding a reported rape and other allegations of sexual improprieties involving underaged girls. WARNING: This story includes graphic content excerpted from a court document which some might find objectionable.

A Tulsa Police Department detective says the investigation into allegations of rape at Victory Christian Center has widened, and now involves at least two suspects and three victims.

KRMG has confirmed that the charges against Chris Denman, a former employee of Victory, involve two victims.

We have now learned the name of a second possible suspect, who also worked for Victory as an intern.

A search warrant affidavit filed Thursday sought information regarding the employment of  Israel Castillo, as well as that of Chris Denman.

Moreover, Asst. District Attorney Doug Drummond says Denman may face additional charges.

He adds that there is "at least one other person that is being investigated, and once we get the reports, we'll make a filing decision at that time."

He didn't want to quantify exactly how many possible victims have been identified at this point, but did agree the current charges already involve more than one.

"We certainly know about two (victims). If further victims come forward we'll look at them," he added.

However, Det. Smith did confirm the possibility of a third victim.

"There is another person we're looking at that may have been involved in some improper activity, and that would be with a third victim but at this point the charges haven't been filed. We're going to submit our information to the D.A.'s office and they'll review them."

Drummond said it's still too early to determine if any of the staff or administration at Victory Christian might face possible criminal charges related to the apparent failure to report the rapes to police.

Police documents indicate the church knew about at least one of the sexual assaults and failed to report them to police for more than two weeks.

The search warrant affidavit also clearly states Victory employees knew about the girl's account of the rape and failed to report it.

"The staff at Victory Christian Center waited more than two weeks to notify the mothers of the two girls as well as the police," it states.

It goes on to say "the two employees held positions at the church that led to additional contact with young females."

The affidavit does indicate that Human Resource Director Frank Sullivan and Youth Director Paul Willemstein "interviewed both the 15-year-old female and the adult employee" about Facebook messages of an explicit nature exchanged between the two.

It says Sullivan contacted the mother of the 13-year-old Aug. 30 "a few hours after calling police."

"Mr. Sullivan advised (the victim's) mother that her daughter and the employee had a consensual sexual relationship. Mr. Sullivan advised the mother that the employee had been terminated. Mr. Sullivan also informed the mother that the sex between her daughter and the employee occurred on 081312. Mr. Sullivan stated the church conducted an investigation and both (the victim) and the employee admitted to the sexual relationship."

But the story the girl told police the next day, Aug. 31, would indicate that the sex was anything but consensual.

According to the affidavit, she "disclosed that Chris Denman forcibly removed her clothes in a stairwell located near the band room inside Victory Christian Center. That Chris Denman pushed her against a wall and had vaginal intercourse. Mr. Denman then grabbed (her) head forcing her to the ground and made her perform oral sex. (The victim) stated that she bit Mr. Denman's penis during the oral sex and he hit her on the side of her face. (She) stated that the rape occurred on 083112 prior to the church service."

Detectives served the search warrant Thursday, searching Victory Christian Center for evidence and obtaining records of their internal investigation, security tapes, and more.

Also Thursday, the D.A.'s office filed four felonies against Denman. Those charges include rape, forcible sodomy, and using a computer to facilitate a sex crime. Another charge, lewd molestation, involves the second victim, according to court records.

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