Religious mentor admits child rape
NORRISTOWN >> A former Pottstown man who acted as a religious mentor to teenage boys utilized so-called “deliverance sessions” and lectures about “demons” to manipulate the boys into performing sexual acts, according to authorities.
Derrick James Perkins, 46, formerly of the first block of East Fifth Street in Pottstown and most recently of Fallsburg, N.Y., pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to two counts each of rape of a child and indecent assault of a child, as well as indecent exposure, in connection with sexual or indecent contact he had with four boys between the ages of 13 and 18 while they were in his
company at various times and locations in Pottstown and Blue Bell between 2004 and 2008.
“This case represents an individual who sought out kids with certain vulnerabilities and decided to manipulate those vulnerabilities to satisfy his own sexual desires,” alleged Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feden. “He took on some sort of a mentoring relationship with these boys, not just mentoring them in terms of life experiences but also mentoring them in terms of their Christian development and that’s where the manipulation arose.
“There’s clearly a manipulative factor, both in terms of using religion, which these boys all centered their lives around, but then also he was supposed to be a mentor for these boys. These boys looked up to him,” Feden added.
Perkins, by pleading guilty, admitted to certain facts contained in an affidavit of probable cause filed by Pottstown Detective Heather Long.
“All four victims speak of ‘deliverance sessions’ and the need to be good Christians. Perkins used the wanting of these four victims to be devoted Christians against them. He turned the sacred place of God and church to coerce these four victims into his sexual assaults,” Long alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Prosecutors and detectives alleged Perkins forced himself on the boys “through religion and fear.”
“Once Perkins gained the trust of the four victims he transitioned the deliverance sessions from emotional talking into sexual assaults,” Long wrote in the arrest affidavit, adding the improper contact included various sexual acts, inappropriate touching and physical abuse.
The victims, according to court papers, told authorities Perkins became a controlling figure in their lives and that they were physically abused by Perkins and were afraid of him. Authorities alleged Perkins selected the weakest victims, those from broken homes who had no father figures.
“Perkins taught the victims about deliverance and demons. None of the victims wanted to do any of these sexual acts with Perkins, they only did so because he manipulated them into thinking it was a ‘normal’ part of their religion and the only way to be delivered from demons to become a good Christian,” Long alleged.
“All of the victims describe Perkins as using the word of the Lord through deliverance to obtain the sexual assault he wanted to take place on any given day,” Long added.
One victim told detectives Perkins forced him to cover himself with “anointing oil in the name of the Lord” during the sexual contact.
“Perkins convinced (the victim) that his normal sexual teenage experiences were that of the enemy or the devil and he needed deliverance,” Long alleged.
Judge Gary S. Silow deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Perkins, who faces a possible maximum sentence of 24 ½ to 49 years in prison on the charges.
Feden, citing the “egregious nature of the crimes and the number of victims,” vowed to seek a lengthy prison term against Perkins. Defense lawyer Keith Harbison declined to comment about the case at this time.
Perkins also faces an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions once they’re released from prison.
The investigation began in January 2014, when one of the victims, then an adult, revealed Perkins’ abuse to authorities. The investigation quickly uncovered three additional victims.
One victim, whowas sexually abused fromages 13 to 17, told authorities Perkins forced him to perform and to submit to sexual acts and threatened to kill the victim’s mother if he told anyone about the incidents, according to court papers.
Another victim, whowas sexually assaulted when he was 16, told authorities Perkins recited Scripture to convince him to submit to Perkins’ sexual advances, according to court documents.
A third victim, who was 15 when he was sexually abused by Perkins, told detectives when he told Perkins he didn’t appreciate the sexual assaults, Perkins responded, “This is God’s love that God gives me to give to you,” according to the criminal complaint.
“Perkins taught the victims about deliverance and demons. None of the victims wanted to do any of these sexual acts with Perkins, they only did so because he manipulated them into thinking itwas a ‘normal’ part of their religion and the only way to be delivered from demons to become a good Christian.”
— Pottstown Detective Heather Long in arrest affidavit