Roy Harriger, pastor in Yates, charged with sex abuse
YATES – A well-known pastor in the Lyndonville community has been charged with several sexual abuse crimes against nine children, crimes that allegedly occurred between September 2010 and September 2011 when he was the pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church.
State police announced today that Roy Harriger, 70, has been charged with two counts of course of sexual conduct, a B felony; two counts of incest, an E felony; and four counts of first-degree sodomy, another B felony, the Buffalo News is reporting.
Harriger was the pastor at Ashwood Wesleyan for 12 years before he was terminated by the church in 2009 after a falling out with denomination leaders.
Harriger then started a new church, Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek.
Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone is prosecuting the charges against Harriger, who police say has a history abusing children, as far back as 1974.
Harriger is a visible pastor in Orleans County. On many occasions he has led opening prayers at County Legislature meetings.
