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	Shifflett out on Bail, Once Again By Liz Mitchell Culpeper Star Exponent [Virginia] March 8, 2006 http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE /MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834579334 Charles Shifflett was released from the Culpeper County Jail Tuesday morning on a $5,000 secured bond. Shifflett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Culpeper, faces eight charges for incidents of cruelty and injury to children, child endangerment and indecent liberties with a child and felonious assault of a 10-year-old girl that occurred up to 20 years ago. Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close said Shifflett's bond has thus far totaled about $19,500. The most recent charges stem from warrants obtained by the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office and citizen complaints filed by his former church member Woody Leake, who also attended the church's private school. The warrant obtained by the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office was on charges of child endangerment for an incident that occurred in 1999 to a 17-year-old boy. Sgt. Jim Fox did not know the circumstances of the incident but said the boy would be the fifth victim in the case. Leake's accusations Leake came forward with his story Monday and is the fourth person to identify himself as a victim. According to court documents, Leake stated Shifflett whipped him five times with a paddle, "roughly two feet long, two inches thick and four inches wide" at Calvary Baptist Academy. The complaint also said Shifflett threatened he would break Leake's fingers if he did not sit in the appropriate position for his beating. "I had no reason to doubt him because he was an adult and he was the Preacher," Leake wrote. The documents state Leake could feel welts on his skin, which left bruises for about one week. In addition to the paddling, Leake obtained a warrant for incidents that he said occurred while he and other school children worked in the woods cutting down trees and splitting wood, which the church then sold to pay for teachers' salaries. Leake said Shifflett told the boys who participated to stand close to the trees that were falling and if they didn't, he would call them names. When the insults and abuse became too overwhelming, Leake stated he "was hoping a tree would fall on me a lot of times just so I wouldn't have to go through this punishment anymore." "One time limbs about one to two inches thick landed around me and the only reason they really didn't hit me was because I stepped behind a tree," Leake wrote. "Most of the time the upper branches and twigs would either hit me or get really close." Determining bond In Virginia, Close said, there is a presumption that a person is entitled to bond regardless of cumulative charges. Some charges, such as murder or rape, are serious enough where a bond would not be appropriate, Close said. But in Shifflett's case, the quantity of charges would not preclude the judge from setting a bond. "The judge has to balance that against public safety and if you are going to come to court," Close said. "The bond seems to be about the same for each charge. I think he is treating each one separately." Shifflett is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 4 at 9 a.m. in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Close said traditionally evidence would be presented at a preliminary hearing and the judge would decide if there is probable cause for the case to go to the Grand Jury. Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or emitchell@starexponent.com.
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