By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — A Neosho man identified as a self-anointed pastor of a fringe church will stand trial on multiple sexual-abuse charges.
Randall “Danny” Russell, 49, pastor of the Acts II Church in rural Neosho, was bound over for trial after three women testified during his preliminary hearing Monday that he raped, molested or sodomized them when they were minors.
Russell was bound over on one count of statutory rape in the second degree, two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, three counts of statutory sodomy in the second degree, one count of felony child abuse and two counts of child molestation in the first degree, ruled Newton County Associate Judge Gregory Stremel.
Acts II Church, 11285 Mulberry Road, is part of larger compound that also contains Russell’s home and a construction business he operates.
The first alleged victim, now 20, to testify Monday accused Russell of abusing her when she was 16. Her allegations prompted prosecutors to file one count each of second-degree statutory rape, second-degree statutory sodomy and child abuse.
She alleged that Russell first came on to her in a sexual manner in August 2003. While the two were in a car at Morse Park in Neosho, the woman alleged, Russell grabbed her hand and placed it on his crotch before he began kissing her.
Russell, the woman said, allegedly had her take off her clothes after a church service in October 2003 and photographed her. Authorities recovered those photographs while executing a search warrant at the church in late April of this year.
After those two encounters in August and October 2003, the woman alleged, oral sex and sexual intercourse took place into the spring of 2004.
The woman testified that Russell initially performed oral sex on her, and she on him, as often as once a week and often on Sundays. Sometimes these acts occurred in a Jacuzzi at Russell’s home, sometimes on a futon in the church offices, she said. Sexual intercourse took place several times before she turned 17, she said.
When asked by Assistant Newton County Prosecutor Bill Dobbs whether Russell ever provided an explanation for his behavior, the woman replied, “He said I came to the church (because) I wanted to please God, and he said that pleasing my pastor was pleasing God.”
The woman acknowledged under cross-examination by Aaron Farber, Russell’s defense attorney, that Russell at one time had proposed to marry her, even though he already was married, and that she had agreed to it. She said he bought her a ring and technically never withdrew the offer, although she said the two were never really engaged because Russell was married.
She said Russell served as a “mentor” figure and for a time would sometimes take her shopping. She said she attended the church from 2003 until about two months ago.
When Farber asked her why she finally left the church, she replied, “I finally realized it was wrong what was going on.”
The second alleged victim, now 24, to testify Monday alleged that Russell began fondling her when she was 12. The allegations from this woman resulted in two counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy.
At that time, the second woman said, Russell did not have his own church but attended one in Goodman with her family. She said Russell often drove her to that church, and would put his hand up her skirt and fondle her while they were in the car. He sometimes fondled her on a couch at his home in Neosho after church services, she testified.
The encounters “got progressively worse,” she said. The abuse stopped when she quit going to church with him, she said.
The second woman acknowledged under cross-examination from Farber that she had never reported the alleged abuse to anyone until recently because she was afraid.
A third woman, now 19, testified that Russell had fondled her “numerous times” between May and December of 2004. The woman said she was 16 at the time, and that Russell claimed he acted the way he did toward her “because he didn’t know how to show how much he loved me.”
The third woman’s allegations form the basis for three charges of second-degree statutory sodomy. Stremel delayed a decision about whether to order Russell bound over for trial on those three counts after Farber contended that the state had failed to prove them and said he would submit a brief staking out that argument.
Russell was arrested and charged in late April after the first alleged victim contacted authorities.
While authorities were executing a search warrant at 11285 Mulberry Road, Russell allegedly acknowledged photographing the first alleged victim when she was 16, according to testimony Monday by Detective Mike Barnett of the Newton County Sheriff’s Department.
Russell also allegedly acknowledged the first sexual encounter in Morse Park and subsequent occasions of oral sex, although he reportedly told Barnett that he thought the girl was 18 when they had sexual intercourse for the first time.
In the wake of those charges, the other women came forward with their allegations, prompting the Newton County prosecutor’s office to file another batch of charges against Russell in mid-May.
Background
The Newton County Sheriff’s Department has said the Acts II Church apparently is not affiliated with any denomination and has been active for about five to six years.
