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Black Collar Crime: Church Volunteer Ryan Wolstoncroft Accused of Sexually Assaulting 11-Year-Old Boy

ryan wolstoncroft

Ryan Wolstoncroft, a volunteer and lifelong member at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, stands accused of repeatedly assaulting an 11-year-old boy.

WTAE-4 reports:

Ryan Wolstoncroft, 36, has been charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy in his Washington County home daily, from February 2020 to November 2021.

According to the criminal complaint, Wolstoncroft would purchase the boy V-bucks, an in-game currency, for his Fortnite video game, in order to continue the abuse.

According to the South Fayette Township police, they are investigating similar crimes against Wolstoncroft, from decades earlier.

South Fayette police Chief John Phoennik said that two adult men have accused Wolstoncroft of abusing them 20 years ago, when they were in elementary school and Wolstoncroft was a teenager.

Phoennik said his department is meeting with the Allegheny County district attorney next week, to determine what charges will be filed.

Wolstoncroft had been volunteering with Bethany Presbyterian Church, in Bridgeville, while police said the crimes occurred.

Staff at the church confirm Wolstoncroft has been a member of their congregation his whole life.

The church released the following statement:

Bethany Presbyterian Church is devastated by the news, and we are fully cooperating with the authorities. Our Pastors, Staff and Leadership ask that you share in our prayers and support for the families and friends of all involved. Bethany Presbyterian Church is focused on being a place of healing and reconciliation for our congregation and the entire community.

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

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2 Comments

  1. Brian Vanderlip

    “Bethany Presbyterian Church is devastated by the news…”
    This is the generic blah printed by virtually every church forced to gaze at the reality of their ‘religion’, a system that is designed to harm self and others, an abusive system that robes itself as magical love on earth. Stick your devastation and ponder reality for change.

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