A convicted child rapist has
admitted that he attempted to have indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl in Upper Providence
and that he failed to notify authorities that he operated a church in rented space at the Pottstown YWCA.
Guy Carlton Jones, 43, of the 100 block of South Mennonite Road, Upper Providence,
pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Monday to charges of attempted indecent assault and failing to comply with reporting requirements of Megan's Law in connection with incidents that occurred between February 2007 and February 2008. Under a sentencing agreement, Jones faces a sentence of about four to 10 years in state prison and 10 years' consecutive probation when he's sentenced next year by Judge William R. Carpenter.
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Jones, who was convicted in 1991 in Philadelphia of raping an 8-year-old girl and who served a 3½ of a 10-year state prison sentence for that crime, was arrested by Pottstown police on Feb. 17, 2008, and charged with violating reporting provisions of Megan's Law.
Specifically, prosecutors alleged Jones failed to notify the state police Megan's Law Unit that he was volunteering as pastor of the City of Refuge Community Baptist Church for which Jones rented space at the YWCA at 315 King St.
"Just because he didn't get a paycheck doesn't mean the state shouldn't know about it and know where he is," said Assistant District Attorney Samantha Cauffman. "From speaking with those at the YWCA, they were all shocked that he had the history that he did."
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Authorities alleged Jones rented the space at the YWCA on July 6, 2006, and at no time after that did he notify state police. State police only found out about Jones's pastoral career when a "concerned citizen" notified Megan's Law officials that Jones was acting as a pastor while renting space at the YWCA, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said Jones was listed as "the pastor" on the application to rent space at the YWCA.
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At the time Jones was acting as a pastor he was awaiting trial on charges he attempted to have indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl on Feb. 16, 2007, at his home.
In that incident, Upper Providence police alleged Jones exposed himself to the girl who was visiting his home and asked her to touch his penis while he was alone with the girl.
"Fortunately, she had enough good sense to stop that from happening. She is a very brave little girl," Cauffman said.
Jones pleaded guilty shortly before his trial was to begin. Had he been convicted at trial of all charges Jones faced a possible maximum sentence of 12½ to 25 years in prison.
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