Prince George's County pastor, 2 others sexually abused teens in church program, police say
FORT WASHINGTON, Md. - A Prince George's County pastor and two other men have been charged with sexually abusing teenage girls in an at-risk youth program at a church, according to officials.
Prince George's County police said the three men, 67-year-old Joshua Wright of Brandywine, 40-year-old Donald Jackson of White Plains and 46-year-old William Wright of White Plains, sexually abused four females between the ages of 15 and 18 at a program run by the Oxon Hill Assembly of Jesus Christ in Fort Washington from 2001 to 2008.
Joshua Wright is the head pastor at Oxon Hill Assembly of Jesus Christ, according to officials. William Wright is Joshua Wright's son and was a minister at the church, detectives stated. Court records state William Wright is also an officer with U.S. Capitol Police. According to police, Jackson is Joshua Wright's son-in-law and a leading member of the church.
Authorities said the program was called "CHOP," which stood for Children Having Overcoming Power, and was designed to provide living accommodations in the homes of church members and education classes at the church for at-risk youth.
"They didn't stay at the church, but they stayed at church members' homes," Cpt. Anthony Schartner with the Prince George's County Police Department explained. "In general, the program was to support children who were high at-risk youth."
The CHOP program ended in 2011.
Investigators said the sexual abuse occurred at multiple locations, including the suspects' homes, various parks and at the church. The suspects have all been charged with child abuse and varying sex offenses.
Officials said the victims came forward and gave their accounts to police in February.
According to investigators, Jackson and William Wright have confessed to the crimes. William Wright remains in custody while Jackson and Joshua Wright are out on bail, police stated. FOX 5 has attempted to reach out to Jackson and Joshua Wright for comment but have not been able to reach them at this time.
Detectives encouraged others who may have encountered any form of sexual abuse when they were enrolled in the CHOP program to come forward.
Anyone with information that could aid detectives in their investigation was urged to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Child and Vulnerable Adult Unit at (301) 772-4930.