A former youth minister in Falls Church has been indicted on federal charges related to child sex abuse.
Jeffrey Taylor, who served as youth minister at The Falls Church from 1990 to 2002, is accused of sexually abusing multiple boys that he allegedly groomed “under the guise of spiritual guidance,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced in a press release today (Tuesday).
Taylor made an initial appearance in federal court yesterday. From the press release:
Taylor allegedly sexually groomed multiple boys under the guise of spiritual guidance. His alleged grooming behaviors included sexual horseplay, probing inquiries into the sexual secrets and habits of boys, and detailed revelations about his own sexual experiences. On multiple occasions, Taylor traveled with the alleged intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct by taking boys with him to ministry events in another state or country. On several occasions, Taylor allegedly engaged or attempted to engage in sexual molestation of multiple boys.
According to court documents, Taylor served as a youth minister at two other churches in Atlanta, where he allegedly groomed and sexually abused a boy in his ministry there. Of the conduct known to investigators, Taylor’s alleged sexual grooming and abuse spanned from at least 1990 until 2008.
The FBI is seeking to identify other potential victims and encourages anyone with further knowledge on this case to contact the Washington Field Office.
The Falls Church Anglican — which separated from The Falls Church, an Episcopal parish, in 2006 — commissioned an independent investigation into Taylor beginning in the fall of 2023. It concerned allegations originally brought forward in 2007 and in 2021.
The report found, in part, that previous church leaders had failed to thoroughly investigate sex abuse allegations against Taylor, according to The Washington Post.
Taylor, now 66, is charged with enticement of minors for illegal sexual activity and traveling with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors. He faces up to 105 years in prison if convicted.
Taylor originally appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, but he is scheduled to be arraigned in the Eastern District of Virginia on Sept. 24.
Photo via Joe Gratz/Flickr
