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Child Molestation

1241: Richard Shaw

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Richard Shaw

Richard Shaw is a church leader and youth pastor who works with Under Command Ministries in Riverton, Wyoming. Shaw also works with other churches in the area.

He was recently arrested to be extradited to Florida where he has been accused of molesting a child under the age of twelve. According to the Polk County (Floridan) Sheriff, “In December 2023, Shaw visited Lakeland, FL, and when he returned back to Wyoming the Polk County victim disclosed to her mother that Shaw had inappropriately touched her underneath and over the top of her clothing while he was there. The mother called and spoke to Shaw, who admitted to touching the child, who is younger than 12 years old.”

Shaw admitted the crime and claimed he was addicted to pornography. He was charged with lewd molestation, a first-degree felony. Authorities in Wyoming will investigate if Shaw was inappropriate with children he worked with at the churches.

Church leader arrested for child sex abuse - Riverton Ranger, The (WY) - January 12, 2024 - page 1 January 12, 2024 | Riverton Ranger, The (WY) | Sarah Elmquist Squires Editor's note: This article contains descriptions of child sex abuse. Polk County, Fla., Sheriff Grady Judd held a press conference this week to condemn the Riverton man accused of molesting a young child in Judd's jurisdiction during a trip there over Christmas. Richard Shaw, 69, Riverton, was arrested by the Riverton Police Department on January 4 on two charges of first-degree felony lewd molestation from Florida and is expected to be extradited to face the charges in Polk County court. Judd said that Shaw is a youth worship leader at Under Command Ministries in Riverton, that he knows of at least one other victim, and urged parents whose children may have been in contact with Shaw to talk to them about sex abuse. "It is beyond my comprehension how a 69-year-old man who is supposed to be a Christian, and a leader in the church, and a leader of children and a leader of people is molesting children, young children less than 12 years old," Judd said during the press conference. Shaw reportedly spent nine days in Lakeland, Fla., over Christmas. After he returned to Wyoming, a child under the age of 12 reported that he had touched them inappropriately both over and under their clothing. The child's mother reportedly then called Shaw to confront him. According to Judd, Shaw admitted to the sex abuse both to the victim's mother and to investigators after his arrest. He reportedly told police he "gave into temptation," and that he's addicted to pornography. "He admitted that children weren't safe around him," Judd said. "When asked during the course of the investigation, 'Should we trust you with a child?' he said 'No, I wouldn't,'" the Florida sheriff continued. "This guy is an evil person. Anyone that would lay their hands on very young children – he's a pedophile, he is a child predator, he is very dangerous, and we have him locked up where he cannot hurt children." Judd said both his office and law enforcement officials in Fremont County are working to find any more potential abuse victims, and that he knows of at least one more. "The Fremont County authorities are currently screening and asking for anyone else who may be a victim of this person or their parents to come forward," he said. "He'll be extradited here and certainly we anticipate that he's going to face other charges in Wyoming as well … I want to make sure that you always have clear lines of communication with your children, so that if anyone is improperly touching them or grooming them, they feel comfortable coming to you." Judd said the allegations are particularly heinous when the offender is someone in a position of public trust and care of over children. "Children are young, they're innocent, they should be safe from those who want to prey upon them," Judd said. "We always have room at the county jail for those who want to mess with children." The Fremont County Sheriff's Office may be contacted at 307-856-7200 or 307-332-5611. Copyright (c) 2024, The Riverton Ranger (Riverton, WY)

0 thoughts on “1241: Richard Shaw”

  1. Yet another disgusting paedophile wolf hiding under the sheep’s clothing of a religious leader. Liars and hypocrites as well as hateful abusers!

    Reply

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