A former longtime volunteer at the Denver Church of Christ is the subject of an on-going sex assault investigation, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said today.
The man is identified as William “Bill” McLaughlin, 45, who is currently charged with multiple felony counts including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, said Cocha Heyden, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department.
According to Heyden, the department received information in December about McLaughlin, alleging he had had a sexual relationship with a child involved in the church.
On Dec. 17, McLaughlin was arrested and is currently in the Douglas County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
Heyden said that the investigation continues because during a 20-year association with the Denver Church of Christ, McLaughlin came into contact with hundreds of children.
The church has satellite churches in many locations and throughout the United States, and McLaughlin traveled extensively, said Heyden.
In addition, McLaughlin lived in several different locations in Douglas County. That is where a number of the sexual assaults allegedly took place, she said.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about McLaughlin or about additional victims to call the sheriff’s office at 303-660-7548 and ask for Detective Dea Aragon or Detective Christine Brite.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
