Additional charges of sexual assault involving a child under 13 may be filed against the embattled Rev. Bill Vandergraph, according to law enforcement.
Also, the Illinois Department of Children Family Services has launched its own investigation of Vandergraph since the home owned by the 72-year-old Alto Pass pastor was a licensed foster parent home from 1994 until 2002, according to state records.
DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe said DCFS is conducting its "own parallel investigation" and working closely with law enforcement agencies involved in the Vandergraph case.
Vandergraph was arrested the evening of July 14 at the Anna DCFS office, after a week-long investigation by the Illinois State Police and Union County Sheriff's Office. He is accused of sexual molestation of a 4-year-old girl between the dates of Jan. 1 and May 31.
Marlowe said there were four children living at the Vandergraph home at the time of the pastor's arrest. Even though Vandergraph did not voluntarily renew his foster parent license after 2002, the children were placed there by DCFS because they were related to him, Marlowe said.
All of those children have been removed and placed elsewhere, he said.
Asked about the DCFS investigation and whether officials would be talking to other children who have stayed with Vandergraph through the years, Marlowe said "the law does not allow me to comment on details of an investigation."
He did say that, at this time, there is just one "single allegation."
That allegation was reported to the DCFS' statewide abuse hotline and then turned over to local law enforcement agencies, he said.
According to Illinois Compiled Statues, Vandergraph's charges do include the act of penetration, which can include but are not limited to intercourse. This crime is a Class X felony, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of 6 to 30 years.
The extent of the injuries acquired by the 4-year-old girl have not been released.
Vandergraph has posted bond and is on home confinement other than for legal or health related issues.
Preliminary hearings for Vandergraph are set for Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. but Union County States Attorney Tyler Edmond said it may be necessary for Vandergraph to appear before a grand jury before preliminaries for additional charges.
Edmonds anticipates more charges being brought.. He said the investigation is still ongoing.
Vandergraph is pastor of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Alto Pass and, up until his arrest, president of the Friends of the Cross fundraising organization. He has since resigned his position with the cross, but it is not known whether he is still the pastor of the church.
Vandergraph could not be reached for comment.
A woman answering the phone at Full Gospel Pentecostal Church declined comment when asked if Vandergraph was still the pastor there.
The arrest has shocked the church community throughout Southern Illinois. Besides being a longtime pastor, Vandergraph has played a key role in the restoration of the Bald Knob Cross as the president of the Friends of the Cross.
Vandergraph was the founder of that group, which raised funds to restore the Southern Illinois religious landmark.
But this week Vandergraph resigned his position with the cross, saying he no longer wanted to be connected with the group.
Jeff Lingle, the vice-president of the Friends, this past Tuesday was unanimously elected as the new president of the group. D.W. Presley, was then elected to take over the vice-presidency.
Steven McKeown, president of Bald Knob Cross of Peace, had no personal comment about Vandergraph, except that his prayers go out to all of those involved, including Vandergraph.
When asked if the charges brought against Vandergraph have affected the support for the restoration of the cross, McKeown said the efforts of the cross should stand alone because it is bigger than any one person.
Support for the cross is still underway and complete restoration is set to be complete by late summer or fall.
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Additional charges of sexual assault involving a child under 13 may be filed against the embattled Rev. Bill Vandergraph, according to law enforcement.
Also, the Illinois Department of Children Family Services has launched its own investigation of Vandergraph since the home owned by the 72-year-old Alto Pass pastor was a licensed foster parent home from 1994 until 2002, according to state records.
DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe said DCFS is conducting its "own parallel investigation" and working closely with law enforcement agencies involved in the Vandergraph case.
Vandergraph was arrested the evening of July 14 at the Anna DCFS office, after a week-long investigation by the Illinois State Police and Union County Sheriff's Office. He is accused of sexual molestation of a 4-year-old girl between the dates of Jan. 1 and May 31.
Marlowe said there were four children living at the Vandergraph home at the time of the pastor's arrest. Even though Vandergraph did not voluntarily renew his foster parent license after 2002, the children were placed there by DCFS because they were related to him, Marlowe said.
All of those children have been removed and placed elsewhere, he said.
Asked about the DCFS investigation and whether officials would be talking to other children who have stayed with Vandergraph through the years, Marlowe said "the law does not allow me to comment on details of an investigation."
He did say that, at this time, there is just one "single allegation."
That allegation was reported to the DCFS' statewide abuse hotline and then turned over to local law enforcement agencies, he said.
According to Illinois Compiled Statues, Vandergraph's charges do include the act of penetration, which can include but are not limited to intercourse. This crime is a Class X felony, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of 6 to 30 years.
The extent of the injuries acquired by the 4-year-old girl have not been released.
Vandergraph has posted bond and is on home confinement other than for legal or health related issues.
Preliminary hearings for Vandergraph are set for Aug. 13, at 9 a.m. but Union County States Attorney Tyler Edmond said it may be necessary for Vandergraph to appear before a grand jury before preliminaries for additional charges.
Edmonds anticipates more charges being brought.. He said the investigation is still ongoing.
Vandergraph is pastor of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Alto Pass and, up until his arrest, president of the Friends of the Cross fundraising organization. He has since resigned his position with the cross, but it is not known whether he is still the pastor of the church.
Vandergraph could not be reached for comment.
A woman answering the phone at Full Gospel Pentecostal Church declined comment when asked if Vandergraph was still the pastor there.
The arrest has shocked the church community throughout Southern Illinois. Besides being a longtime pastor, Vandergraph has played a key role in the restoration of the Bald Knob Cross as the president of the Friends of the Cross.
Vandergraph was the founder of that group, which raised funds to restore the Southern Illinois religious landmark.
But this week Vandergraph resigned his position with the cross, saying he no longer wanted to be connected with the group.
Jeff Lingle, the vice-president of the Friends, this past Tuesday was unanimously elected as the new president of the group. D.W. Presley, was then elected to take over the vice-presidency.
Steven McKeown, president of Bald Knob Cross of Peace, had no personal comment about Vandergraph, except that his prayers go out to all of those involved, including Vandergraph.
When asked if the charges brought against Vandergraph have affected the support for the restoration of the cross, McKeown said the efforts of the cross should stand alone because it is bigger than any one person.
Support for the cross is still underway and complete restoration is set to be complete by late summer or fall.
