Christian boarding school staffer is charged; another pleads guilty
For immediate release: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Former Christian boarding school principal faces charges
And an ex-teacher pleads guilty to abuse or neglect of a child
Victims applaud both developments & the closing of a similar facility
A former principal faces new charges of child sexual abuse and a former teacher has pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect. Both men worked at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont. The Academy, which is now closed, was in Wayne County, two hours southwest of St. Louis.
Victims are applauding both developments along with news that yet another similar facility in rural Missouri has apparently closed.
Lighthouse was one of several Christian boarding schools in the state where staffers have been charged in criminal courts and sued in civil courts, or been the subject of media reporting about the physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children.
Craig Wesley Smith Jr., who was Lighthouse Christian Academy’s principal, faces felony charges of forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual contact with a student, abuse or neglect of a child, and harassment, according to attorney Rebecca Randles of Randles, Mata & Brown, L.L.C. in Kansas City (816-931-9901). Last week, a judge set his arraignment for October 31, 2024.
Caleb Sandoval, who taught at the same school, has been sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to Abuse Or Neglect Of A Child. (State v. Caleb Sandoval, Case #24WY-CR00156-01)
Neither development has been covered by news media in Missouri.
The victims "feel encouraged" by the developments.
"Neither of these men should have ever had jobs around kids," said Aralysa Baker, who was a student at Lighthouse Academy from 2005 to 2007. "Each of them hurt several kids that we know of, and were so blatant in their behavior that other adults must have known of their criminal acts."
"We praise the brave survivors who are cooperating with law enforcement to help get these offenders locked up and away from children," said David Clohessy of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Victims are also relieved to learn that Stone of Hope Boarding School in southwest Missouri has apparently closed, according to reports from neighbors and the disappearance of the school's website. It operated on the grounds of the former Agape School, and shared employees, land, students, and the same general business concept with the shuttered Agape School.
CONTACT: David Clohessy, SNAP Missouri ([email protected], 314-566-9790), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
