PA Jehovah's Witnesses Embroiled In Child Sex Abuse Scandal

HARRISBURG– Criminal charges involving sexual assault and exploitation of children were filed against four men with Pennsylvania ties, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday.

The charges were filed against Jesse Hill, formerly of Berks County and now a Georgia resident; Jose Serrano of Lancaster County; Robert Ostrander, formerly of Cambria County and now a New York resident; and the late Eric Eleam of Butler County.

Three of the four were charged with having sexual contact with their own children or step-children. Patch will not identify which suspects face those accusations so as not to potentially identify the alleged victims.

“These cases are disturbing, the allegations hard to imagine, and all share one common tie," Shapiro said in a statement. "The 19 victims and the four men who are being charged with sexually violating them are all members of Jehovah’s Witnesses."

Hill, 52, allegedly used his milling business to attract young boys from his Jehovah’s Witness congregation, with promises of alcohol, marijuana, and pornography to his property for
parties in the 1990s. Hill would later expose himself to the children, grope them and force them to perform sex acts. Hill has been charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and corruption of minors in incidents involving 10 minors.

Serrano, 69, is alleged to have molested six young girls. According to Shapiro's office, he confessed to committing many of the criminal offenses to the Grand Jury that investigated them. He is charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children.

Ostrander, 56, is alleged to have sexually abused at least two minors. He is charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.

Eleam, 61, of Butler County was charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and endangering the welfare of a child. When authorities attempted to take him into custody, he retreated into his bathroom and committed suicide, Shapiro's office said.