Church volunteer charged with child rape, molestation
OAK HARBOR, Wash. -- Prosecutors on Whidbey Island have charged a youth ministry volunteer with raping and molesting two young boys, and police say he used his own church as a hunting ground.
Two alleged victims have come forward to say Ronald Asplund attacked them inside the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, but investigators believe more victims will soon surface.
When Oak Harbor police booked Asplund into jail last week, they were only beginning to learn the extent of the child sex crimes he's accused of. Investigators say his history of volunteering with local children might have been a cover to victimize the children. Asplund is now accused of using his position with the church to rape a 14-year-old boy during a late night church event at the parish.
"It's terrible. It's a sad thing, it's really a sad thing," said Bobbie Dugan, who attends the church.
Police learned about the case when a concerned mom called to say Asplund had violated a restraining order she took out to protect her son. A second victim soon came forward with similar allegations.
Asplund is accused of grooming the two boys -- a 14-year old and a 13-year old -- by giving them candy, video games, cell phones and rides in his car.
Investigators say he specifically targeted boys who lacked father figures.
"He would be, like, the absent parent. (He would) take them places, buy them things and earn their trust," said Sgt. Teri Gardner with the Oak Harbor Police Department.
Police say Asplund raped and molested the boys on dozens of occasions. Some of the attacks took place behind a local Kmart or in bushes nearby.
"It's sick. It's sick. Good, they have him and I hope they put him away, and I'm sorry that happened with those little children," said Asplund's neighbor, Pam Sims.
Prosecutors charged Asplund with three counts of child rape and three more of child molestation. They say he confessed to the crimes, and investigators believe more victims will soon come forward.
"It's a tragedy. That's all. And you know it's just like anything, you have to have a vigil on all the time," said Erwin Dugan, who attends the church.
The pastor at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church said Asplund hasn't volunteered at the church since October.
Two alleged victims have come forward to say Ronald Asplund attacked them inside the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, but investigators believe more victims will soon surface.
When Oak Harbor police booked Asplund into jail last week, they were only beginning to learn the extent of the child sex crimes he's accused of. Investigators say his history of volunteering with local children might have been a cover to victimize the children. Asplund is now accused of using his position with the church to rape a 14-year-old boy during a late night church event at the parish.
"It's terrible. It's a sad thing, it's really a sad thing," said Bobbie Dugan, who attends the church.
Police learned about the case when a concerned mom called to say Asplund had violated a restraining order she took out to protect her son. A second victim soon came forward with similar allegations.
Asplund is accused of grooming the two boys -- a 14-year old and a 13-year old -- by giving them candy, video games, cell phones and rides in his car.
Investigators say he specifically targeted boys who lacked father figures.
"He would be, like, the absent parent. (He would) take them places, buy them things and earn their trust," said Sgt. Teri Gardner with the Oak Harbor Police Department.
Police say Asplund raped and molested the boys on dozens of occasions. Some of the attacks took place behind a local Kmart or in bushes nearby.
"It's sick. It's sick. Good, they have him and I hope they put him away, and I'm sorry that happened with those little children," said Asplund's neighbor, Pam Sims.
Prosecutors charged Asplund with three counts of child rape and three more of child molestation. They say he confessed to the crimes, and investigators believe more victims will soon come forward.
"It's a tragedy. That's all. And you know it's just like anything, you have to have a vigil on all the time," said Erwin Dugan, who attends the church.
The pastor at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church said Asplund hasn't volunteered at the church since October.
