Pastor accused of sexually assaulting woman while performing 'exorcisms'
TORONTO — A Scarborough pastor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman while performing “exorcisms” on her.
The 53-year-old Wayne Marlon Jones of the United Spiritual Baptist Church had apparently performed the exorcisms between May 2011 and May 2013, during which time he was offering the woman spiritual guidance. The woman also allegedly gave him money and property.
“We are encouraging anyone who has additional information to come forward to police,” Toronto Police spokesman Meaghan Gray said of the allegations.
The church itself was run out of Jones’ home in a bungalow on a corner lot. Recently, the place was vacated after Jones entered into a dispute with the Ontario Municipal Board, which would not allow “the place of worship to remain on the main floor with a residential dwelling unit in the basement.”
Prior to the church building’s abandonment, however, members of Jones’ congregation would flock to his home, where 30 cars could be seen lining the residential streets at a time. “Weird things go on over there,” said Sue Lamonday, 60, who lives across the street on Brussels Rd. “It didn’t make sense people would be there at 2 a.m. until 4, 5, 6 a.m. I walked by last summer and heard (a man) screaming, ‘God is going to save you from the fires of hell if you hand over your help any way you can.’”
Jones will be appearing in court on February 11.
