With his lawyer at his side, Dale Giffin stood silently in court, accused of repeatedly raping a young female member of the church where he served as pastor for close to 30 years. His only words acknowledged to the judge that he understood the conditions of his release.
Giffin was indicted earlier this month by a Mahoning County Grand Jury charged with assaulting the alleged victim at the Zion Lutheran Church on Canfield Road in Cornersburg, as well as other locations. Prosecutors say the reported crimes date back to 1993 when the victim was a young adult. While authorities believe Giffin and the woman had been having a sexual relationship since she was a minor, those alleged incidents were beyond the statute of limitations for filing charges.
In court, Judge Scott Krichbaum agreed to set bond at $60,000. Prosecutors don't believe Giffin will be a threat to the area or try to leave town before his trial. As a condition of his release, Giffin was ordered to surrender his passport and stay away from the alleged victim who, according to Assistant Prosecutor, Dawn Cantalamessa, doesn't live in the area anymore.
Giffin resigned last fall after someone confronted him about the alleged crime.
Giffin is facing a May trial date. If he's convicted on all counts, he could be sent to prison for up to 60 years.
