LAKEWOOD, Colo.-
A pastor faces charges of sexually assaulting two children in his wife’s home day-care at least a dozen years ago, authorities said Monday.
Stephen J. Heese, 51, pastor of The Church in South Denver, was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and two counts of sexual assault on a child with a pattern of conduct.
Heese denies the allegations and his church is supporting him, said Ray Brown, a church elder. He is free on $25,000 bond.
“It is the church’s position that the accusations are false. We stand behind Steve. He has denied it and we totally believe him,” Brown said.
Heese’s home phone was disconnected and Brown said Heese was not commenting publicly. Heese is still employed at the church, where he has been pastor for 27 years, Brown said.
A 17-year-old girl and her 20-year-old brother told authorities a year ago they were assaulted when they both attended the day-care operation, roughly between 1992 and 1994, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Charges were filed last month.
Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County district attorney, said the allegations came to light when a girl told an official at her school, who in turn told police. She said it was not unusual for the investigation in such a case to take a year.
She said investigators believe there may be other alleged victims.
If convicted of all four counts, Stephen Heese could face a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervision.
Brown said The Church in South Denver is non-denominational and has between 200 and 300 members.
Licensing information with the state showed Rebecca Heese had the capacity to serve six children in day care. Online records confirmed one complaint concerning safety and lack of supervision in 2004, but no injuries were noted. Details were not immediately available.
