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Couple wanted on sex charges turns themselves in

Submitted Alice Kilburn

Submitted Jeff Kilburn

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer Updated 1:29 PM Tuesday, December 22, 2009

LEBANON — A Warren County couple who ran a South Lebanon ministry turned themselves in today, Dec. 22 and will be arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 23 on sex and child endangering charges.

Jeff and Alice Kilburn were indicted Friday, Dec. 18 on charges of endangering children, a second-degree felony, and sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor. They face up to eight years in prison if they are found guilty and will have to register as sex offenders.

Jeff Kilburn said he was dumbfounded when he found out Monday, Dec. 21 he had been indicted.

The alleged incident involved a 16-year-old and occurred at Clark HomePlace on McKinley Street in South Lebanon during the summer, police said. Jeff Kilburn ran the religious ministry meeting house and played with his band Kilburn Wildgrass at the facility, which closed on July 10.

Adams County Prosecutor Aaron Haslam said both Kilburns allegedly “touched” the boy. Since Jeff Kilburn and Warren County commissioner Mike Kilburn are cousins, the case is being handled by Haslam.

Because of the potential “appearance of influence,” Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel asked a Warren County judge to transfer the case. She said she cannot talk about the case, but back in August, she explained the case transfer.

“He is a relative of one of our county commissioners. In those types of instances the ethical thing to do is to get a special prosecutor, which is what I’ve done,” Hutzel said.

The grand jury also considered potential rape and sexual battery charges against Alice Kilburn and they rendered a “no bill” decision, which means those cases won’t proceed.

In civil stalking documents filed in July, the father of the victim accused Alice Kilburn of raping his son and contributing alcohol and drugs to a minor. The father also filed a civil protection order against Jeff Kilburn, accusing him of sexual misconduct with a minor and accessory to rape.

Those papers were filed on July 29, two days after Kilburn filed his own protection order, accusing the father of trying to run him off the road with his car.

The civil stalking cases were dismissed because not all the parties showed up to court.

Last summer, Jeff Kilburn said health issues forced him to shut the doors at HomePlace. He denied any wrong doing at that time.

“It’s just an alleged story and someone keeps making it up and keeps adding to it and keeping something going that’s not there...” he said. “We were giving away free food and feeding the homeless, we were doing some great work down here and some people got jealous and started the rumors.”

The Kilburns live in Massie Twp., where Jeff Kilburn is pastor of Believer’s Ministries, which meets at Caesar Creek Pioneer Village Meeting House, according to his Web site.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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