Church musical director faces sex charges

Angela Soo

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 10:12 a.m.

The musical director of Westminster Presbyterian Church was in court Monday to face charges of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old parishioner.

John Morgan Brock faces 35 counts of sexual assault with a minor, lewdness and solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous crime against nature.

Prosecutors say the alleged sexual assault occurred over a six-month period between November 1998 and May 1999.

Brock and the teenager attended the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where they met.

Deputy District Attorney Bill Kephart told the jury in opening arguments that Brock became a father figure to the boy, then became obsessed with him.

Defense Attorney Christopher Oram countered that if anyone was obsessed, it was the boy's mother, who was jealous of Brock's success in helping the boy raise his grades.

The boy testified that the assaults took place about twice a month during sleepovers at Brock's studio.

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