Trial Starts For Church Elders Accused Of Not Reporting Sex Abuse

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A bench trial for two Jehovah's Witnesses elders accused of not reporting the sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl to police got underway Wednesday.

Michael Penkava, 72, of Crystal Lake, and Colin Scott, 88, of Cary, are each charged with a misdemeanor charge of violating provisions of the state’s mandatory reporter law. On Wednesday, McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt did not rule on whether he'd allow statements on the trial from two congregants regarding Arturo Hernandez-Pedraz, a congregant convicted of sexually assaulting the child, according to the Northwest Herald.

In 2006, Hernandez-Pedraz confessed to church elders he sexually assaulted the girl in 2006. It wasn't until 2019 that Hernandez-Pedraza, who is now 44 years old, was sentenced to 45 years in prison after the girl again reported the sexual assault.

She said she was sexually assaulted throughout her childhood, and Hernandez-Pedraza threatened to kill her and her family members if she ever told anyone, according to media reports.

The bench trial is set to resume on Dec. 11.

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