A former Christian school principal and his wife who was a teacher, are being accused of sexually abusing a minor over a period of four years.
The Oregon couple, David Alan Wakefield, 60, and Rachel Jean Wakefield, 54, were indicted on numerous counts of sex abuse on Feb. 20, the Clackamas County Sheriff announced. David is facing 20 charges and Jean is facing 11.
The victim, who is now an adult, was 14 when the alleged abuse began.
At the time, David was the principal and then athletic director of Damascus Christian School, while Rachel was a substitute teacher and coach.
Detectives believe there might be additional victims and are asking for tips.
“Dave and Rachel Wakefield have been valued members of the Clackamas County community for their lives,” their attorney Zach Stern says. “They deny the charges and look forward to the day when the truth comes out.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, Damascus Christian School says it is “heartbroken” by the charges.
“Although this couple have not been connected to the church or school for some time, Damascus Community Church and Christian School still take these reports very seriously and the safety of our students and staff is a top priority,” the statement says. “If requested, we will fully cooperate with law enforcement and the courts during this process. If you have any additional information regarding these charges or other allegations, we encourage you to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office directly.”
