Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 3, 1994 TAG: 9408030062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Glenn Naff waived his preliminary hearing on two of the felony charges Tuesday in Bedford County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. At the close of the hearing, he was instructed to have no contact with the victims. He then left through a rear door of the courthouse, his attorney by his side.
Bedford County prosecutor Randy Krantz agreed to dismiss the most serious charge - aggravated sexual battery - because it involved the youngest of the teens. Krantz said he can refile that charge, but at this time he wanted to protect the alleged victim.
"This way we don't have to expose [the girl] to cross-examination," he said in an interview outside the courtroom.
In April, state police charged Naff, 59, with engaging in nonforcible sodomy with a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl. He was also charged with aggravated sexual battery of a 13-year-old girl.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred from March to July 1993, when Naff was living with Andrew and Wanda Kay Robinson. The three girls, nieces of the Robinsons, moved in with them while their parents were going through a divorce.
Naff sought the friendship of the Robinsons in 1989, when he was going through a divorce. He had moved out of his home and had left his church in Roanoke County.
The Robinsons - who run a small Christian congregation called the Tabernacle of Love - opened their church and their home to him.
In Naff, the couple soon discovered a person willing to return their generosity with expensive cars, trips on his private airplane and contributions to the church, according to church members.
On Easter Sunday this year, just after services, the five-year relationship came to a public and dramatic end.
Andrew Robinson stood before about 40 members of his congregation and accused Naff of sexually molesting his nieces. Church members who attended the service said Naff acknowledged that he had taken part in sexual improprieties with the teens.
Soon after, state police filed three felony sexual molestation charges against Naff.
Krantz confirmed Tuesday that Naff has made "incriminating statements" about the incidents to third parties and police.
If Naff is indicted by the grand jury, his case will go before Bedford County Circuit Court.
In that arena, Naff and the Robinsons also are fighting a civil battle.
After the criminal allegations, Naff sued Andrew Robinson, claiming the minister had reneged on a $172,660 loan that had gone to purchase a five-bedroom house. The three friends lived in the house in the final years of their relationship.
Robinson countersued, alleging that the suit was filed only because of the criminal allegations. He also contended that he lent Naff $20,000 and had not been repaid.
The civil case is scheduled to go before a judge Monday.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***