Local Southern Baptist leaders named in newly released sex offender list

Five South Florida religious leaders were named in a list of hundreds of Southern Baptist pastors and church personnel accused of sexual abuse.

More than 50 of those listed were from Florida.

The names of the accused and brief descriptions of the allegations were compiled by a former employee of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

An introduction to the list says that it is being made public as an “important step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform in the convention.

“Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse. Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us.”

Included in the list are:

■ Keith Geren of Wayside Baptist Church in Miami: In 1994, the youth minister was accused of molesting 12 boys. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and there was a $6.7 million judgement against the church for failing to do proper screening before employment.

■ Richard Harris of Second Baptist Church in Belle Glade: In 2009, the pastor was charged with sexual assault of a child. He was found guilty of performing sex acts on a child he had enticed with promises of introductions to football scouts and trainers so the youth could have a better chance at NFL stardom.

■ Russell Dion Lewis of Church by the Glades in Coral Springs: Lewis was an assistant youth pastor and worship leader. He was charged with three counts of battery and molestation on a child 12 to 15 years of age. In 2011, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

■ Lyndon Howell of Community Missionary Baptist in Delray Beach: In 2001, The associate pastor was accused of abusing a child. No other details were available in the database.

■ Jerome Dieuseul of the South Florida Baptist Church in Miami: As a pastor of the church, he was accused of sexually abusing a girl in 2010. No other information was available.