Thursday, July 30, 2020
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Pastor, candidate under scrutiny for sex abuse case handling
Heat wave making swimming pools a cool alternative
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
By Sean Krofssik Record-Journal staff
30TH HOUSE DISTRICT RACE
SOUTHINGTON — A pastor’s response to a sexual abuse case in his church and school two decades ago is under scrutiny as he runs for state office. Republican and Southington resident Jim Townsley, pastor and founder of Central Baptist Church, Townsley is running against Berlin Republican and party-endorsed candidate Donna Veach in a primary for the 30th state House District. The winner of the August primary will face JoAnn Angelico-Stetson, a Berlin Town Council Democrat, in November for an open seat. Incumbent House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz is not seeking re-election in the 30th District. In 2005, a former Central Baptist Church youth pastor, James “Joe” McCoy, was
The Central Baptist Church in Southington.
convicted on two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault involving a teen. The abuse began when the teen was 17 and attending Central Christian Academy, a school affiliated with the church and also founded by Townsley.
“All that we knew was she was an adult. We dealt with it as a church matter and left it to the privacy of the family,” Townsley said. “Had we known then she was under 18, we would have reported it.”
Townsley said when the woman told him about the abuse in 2001, he believed it hadn’t started until she had graduated high school. He immediately demanded a resignation from McCoy but didn’t contact police.
The abuse took place in the late 1990s. Southington police began investigating in late 2002 after receiving an anonymous letter about the incident.
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time at each pool. Once they hit capacity, new swimmers aren’t allowed Area pools have been busy until others leave. Lapreay with the recent heat wave. said this has only hapMeriden has seen an pened a handful of times. uptick in swimmers, and “It’s been so hot, people Southington has been come for an hour and cool steady. Plainville and off and then Berlin pools have been filled to their reduced ca- leave,” Lapreay said. pacity with temperatures The pools are open only in the 90s for several days. to Southington residents, seven days a week. Hours Southington’s Memorial are Monday through FriPark and Recreation Park day, noon to 8 p.m., and pools opened on June 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 27. Southington Director weekend. of Recreation Dave Lapreay said the In Meriden, the Hubbard summer has been a sucPark pool opened on July cess so far for the town’s 1 and has been busier two public pools. than expected. “Thing are going really “Everything is going well,” Lapreay said. “We’ve great,” Meriden Recreation had some busy days, but Coordinator Kathy Matula all in all we’ve had our said. “It’s much more guidelines and people crowded than anticipated. have been accepting We had to implement them. We are happy with two-hour blocks on busy the way things have gone days.” and we are hoping that The pool has a capacity of will continue in the com55. Matula will get a text ing weeks.” from a lifeguard at the Recreation and Memorial parks allow 50 people at a
See Pools, A10
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Volume 22, Number 22