Former youth pastor arrested again

Jack Duffer

Katie Collett

WAVY-TV 10

August 24, 2009

YORK COUNTY, Va. - Sergeant Dennis Ivey of the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office tells WAVY.com Jack Duffer was arrested for the second time in two weeks. Ivey says Duffer was arrested Friday after a second teenager in two weeks came forward saying the former youth pastor had sexual contact with her in two different areas of York County.

Ivey says Duffer faces 34 sex-related charges in connection with Friday's arrest and two charges from his prior arrest. While detectives work to find out if there are anymore alleged victims, the Seaford Baptist Church community prays for strength.

Since 1966, Seaford Baptist Church stood tall and strong in York County. Two weeks ago, the church was tested when a young teenager came forward saying she had consensual sex with her former youth pastor, Jack Duffer.

Duffer was arrested, charged and released from jail on bond. Then, just three days ago, he was arrested again after word of another possible teenage victim, but investigators say this time the sexual incidents were not consentual.

"Some of them occurred in the winter of last year at a location in York County and some of them occurred in the summer of last year in York County," says Ivey.

News of Duffer's second arrest, and 34 new charges, shook the foundation of the Seaford Church.

"We are broken hearted about these new charges," says Pastor Gene Cornett.

Church leaders, including Cornett, immediately suspended Duffer after his first arrest, and with word of this second arrest, Cornett says, "The leadership of our church will make further decisions based on this new information. We are committed in acting in the best interest of all who are affected including all of our youth and families and others in the community."

Ivey says the identity of the two victims must be protected, but he says another victim stands for the public to see...the church itself.

"I want the kids to realize that even though this occurs, not every adult youth minister you're going to meet is going to be this type of person. It's not a common thing, especially not a common thing in York County. That's a shame when something like this is a black eye so to speak on the church itself. This church is a great church," says Ivey.

Cornett asks just one thing of the public, "We ask for prayer for all those concerned."

Duffer is in the Virginia Peninsula Jail charged with 17 counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor and 17 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If you know of anyone else who may be an alleged victim of Duffer, investigators ask you to call the Crime Line immediately at 1-888-LOCK U UP.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wavy_yorkcounty_youth_pastor_jailed_again_20090824

SNAP Note: Seaford Baptist Church is shown as an SBC-affiliated church.