Church Official Says Accused Child Molester Confessed

The church youth group leader charged this week with molesting four young boys confessed to leaders of the First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton two months ago and was stripped of his volunteer job working with youngsters, a church spokesman said Thursday.

Michael Webb Blinkhorn, 29, admitted to church officials Jan. 19 that he had molested young parishioners after a youth on a church retreat complained to another counselor, said church spokesman Jac La Tour.

Blinkhorn was dismissed “after confessing to molesting and engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with four junior high-age boys,” according to a statement issued by the church.

In addition to being removed from the youth group, Blinkhorn was advised to seek counseling and asked to stay away from the church, La Tour said.

The church staff informed the parents of the alleged victims, none of whom were in Blinkhorn’s youth group, and reported Blinkhorn to county social service workers, La Tour said.

Placentia police then conducted a monthlong investigation of the charges, which involved three boys from Fullerton and one from Anaheim, said Placentia police spokeswoman Corrine Loomis.

Asked to vacate his apartment by his roommates, Blinkhorn left the area and was most likely living in Reseda until he turned himself in to police Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest, a Placentia investigator said.

He is being held in the Orange County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond, charged with 18 felony counts of lewd conduct with children, she said. Blinkhorn will be arraigned Wednesday in Municipal Court in Fullerton and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

The charges mark the second time allegations of sexual misconduct have arisen at the church. In 1992, church elder James C. Truxton resigned after admitting he molested several young female church members.

For four years, Blinkhorn spent six to eight hours a week with a group of about 10 boys, helping help them with Bible study on Wednesday nights and leading a Sunday morning youth program. Blinkhorn underwent a church screening process before he was allowed to become a volunteer, La Tour said.

Blinkhorn molested the youths, ranging in age from 12 and 15, in his home between January, 1991, and July, 1993, Loomis said.

Blinkhorn moved to a room in a Placentia home in August, 1993, and lived there until about seven weeks ago, his former roommate said Thursday. Blinkhorn admitted the molestations to his two roommates about the same time he acknowledged the offenses to church staff, said the roommate, who asked not to be identified.

“Mike told us what happened and we said, ‘It’s time for you to leave now. We don’t want you here anymore.’ And he was gone that weekend,” the roommate said.

While living in the Placentia house, Blinkhorn frequently brought home members of his youth group for Bible study meetings, the roommate said, adding that Blinkhorn denied molesting them there.

“He got along with (the youths in his group) really well. He was basically a kid at heart” and a devout Christian, he added.

“He seemed remorseful and knew that it was wrong. He said he needed help. I could see he was distraught. I didn’t see him shed tears . . . but I’m sure he probably did on his own.”

The church has encouraged Blinkhorn’s alleged victims and their families to seek counseling and has arranged for a church staff person to make referrals to community family counselors, La Tour said.