Young Life Volunteer Says Many are 'Praying for Healing' in Wake of Sexual Abuse Confession

"We just continue to pray about the situation and continue to do what we do," Colin Gray said.

York Young Life volunteer Colin Gray of Elmhurst said the group of teens he works with and others in the community are "devastated" after hearing that a former associate pastor, who also was a Young Life volunteer, confessed to a physical relationship with an underage girl. Jim Lennon, pastor of West Suburban Church in Elmhurst, read the letter of confession from Darin Evans to his church congregation Sunday, Feb. 24. "We're pretty devastated by what's happened here," Gray said in a phone interview Thursday. "It's been very difficult for us to deal with this situation." Related: Gray, committee chairman for Young Life, said he joined the group late last year, around the same time Evans was moving to Ohio with his wife and three kids. But …

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Former Associate Pastor Had History of Community Involvement

Once very engrained in the youth community of Elmhurst, Darin Evans, 41, is now the subject of an ongoing police investigation after his letter of confession to West Suburban Church.

A former associate pastor at West Suburban Community Church, Darin Evans was an active and well-liked member of the Elmhurst community—making his recent admission of a physical relationship with an underage member of the congregation all the more shocking. Evans' admission was announced Sunday by West Suburban Community Church Senior Pastor Jim Lennon. READ MORE:  After 11 years as associate pastor at WSCC, 825 N. Van Auken, Evans, 41, resigned at the end of last year and moved with his wife and three teenage children from his home in Villa Park to Ohio, Lennon said.  As associate pastor of West Suburban Church, one of Evans' responsibilities was to oversee the youth ministry, Lennon said. He primarily was involved with middle school and …

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Former Coach's Arrest in Elmhurst Last Summer Prompts Further Investigation by Concordia University

University investigation, now completed, was prompted after Spiro Lempesis was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a minor in Elmhurst.

Former Concordia University baseball coach Spiro Lempesis, who was fired in 2010 over allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with someone who was not a minor, reportedly has been under additional scrutiny by the university recently. The new investigation, which the university announced on Monday has been completed, stems from Lempesis's arrest last June in Elmhurst on suspicion of aggravated criminal sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy. Elmhurst police never filed charges in the June arrest, and Elmhurst Patch has not yet received the police report. On Oct. 24, 2012, the university released a letter to students letting them know it was launching a new investigation, led by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins. The letter, …

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Look Up Boy Scout Leaders Expelled in Illinois

Almost 300 Illinois records are included in the Boy Scouts of America's once-secret "perversion files." Search for your town or troop number.

Patch's searchable database allows you to search by cities in Illinois. Information gathered by the Los Angeles Times shows the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America who were expelled between 1947 and 2005 on suspicions or confirmation of sexual abuse. If a troop is listed, a case file exists. At this time, not all case files are available online. As new documents become available, Patch will update this database.

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DuPage County Court Watch

Elmhurst Man Convicted of Possessing Child Pornography Gets Probation

Impersonation, sexual abuse and burglary also on the docket. Here's a look at some of the cases we're keeping an eye on in DuPage County courts.

Elmhurst—The Elmhurst man convicted last month on 15 counts of possessing child pornography was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to register as a sex offender. Paul F. Murphy was arrested last year after an investigation turned up hundreds of pornographic images on computer files and DVDs in Murphy's apartment. He was also ordered to serve 180 days in DuPage County Jail, but was credited with 326 days he had already served. Downers Grove/Lisle—John C. Campbell, accused of pretending to be a federal agent, pleaded not guilty Jan. 9 to forgery and multiple counts of impersonating an officer. Campbell was arrested in November after telling a Lisle police officer and a bank employee he was a U.S. Marshal, according to …

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Jim Court

7:57 am on Monday, March 19, 2012

Having worked for the Federal Government, I met many individuals who claimed to be Government "workers" What work ?   more ›

Woman Fends off Man with a Pot Roast, and Limo Driver Accused of Sexual Abuse

Incidents reported by the Elmhurst Police July 15-17.

Woman Defends Herself with Bag of Meat A woman told police she was approached by a man at Cayuga and York at 4:49 a.m. July 15. The man asked her where Elmhurst was, and she said they were in Elmhurst. He then “appeared disappointed.” The offender reportedly had slurred speech and appeared very confused. He grabbed the woman with both of his hands and tugged her. She hit him on top of his head with a pot roast and Italian sausages in a bag, police said. The man, who had a shaved head and was about 35 years old and 185 pounds, left the scene in a red Honda. Woman Alleges Sexual Abuse A woman told police that she was fondled by a limousine driver she had hired to drive her and her friend from a wrestling event at Allstate Arena to the 900 …

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Jim Court

5:57 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011

Miss Chevious Renee   more ›