WESTON, W.Va. — A former pastor accused of sexually abusing young girls over a period of several years officially had his first hearing in Lewis County court on Tuesday.
John Radcliff, will receive a continuance until June after Lewis County Prosecutor Christina Flanigan filed the motion in response to an additional alleged victim being found who lives out of state. Judge Jacob Reger granted the request for a continuance with no objection to the defense counsel of Radcliff.
Radcliff was indicted in Lewis County last July on 47 felony charges against eight victims, including sexual assault, sexual abuse and incest. the The charge count was reduced to only 42 during Tuesday’s hearing, pending the addition of more by the alleged victim who’s expected to speak with investigators.
According to criminal complaints filed at the time of Radcliff’s arrest, the victims were allegedly as young as 3 or 4 years old at the time of the alleged abuse with multiple victims told investigators that he forced them to touch his genitals and perform oral sex on him.
The next pretrial hearing in Radcliff’s case is scheduled for June 3 at 9:15 a.m. Jury selection is set for June 15 at 9 a.m.
Radcliff is also facing charges in Braxton, Harrison and Nicholas counties.