DA adds charges against pastor accused of sex abuse against children

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The district attorney added new charges Monday against a pastor who used to lead a Lyndonville congregation.

Roy Harriger, 70, already faced three counts of incest and coarse sexual conduct. District Attorney Joe Cardone added three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Harriger was arraigned on Monday afternoon in Orleans County Court by Judge James Punch.

The new charges won’t increase the maximum sentence for Harriger. He appeared in court with his attorney Larry Koss. Harriger pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The new indictment with the additional charges resets the court calendar for Harriger. He is scheduled to next appear in court on June 23 for a conference with motions to be filed by July 7 and then argued in court on July 21.

Harriger, the pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in the town of Hartland, was charged in November with three counts of coarse sexual contact in the first degree and three counts of incest. He faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

In the arraignment on Monday, Judge Punch kept the same conditions on Harriger, ordering him to stay away from church and any other locations where there are children 18 or younger. Harriger also remains free on $250,000 bail.

The alleged crimes by Harriger occurred against three family members between September 2000 and September 2001, when he was pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.