A member of the Warsaw Shrine Club is accused of sexual acts with a minor at the group's building.

Jeffrey A. Spry 

Jeffrey A. Spry, 52, was charged Monday with one count of statutory sodomy.

 

The Benton County Prosecutor says Spry had "deviate sexual intercourse" with a 15-year-old girl at the Warsaw Shriner Club (32065 Highway MM) on Tuesday, July 16.

 

The accusations came to light by the victim's parents, who found explicit text messages on the girl's iPad in late July.

 

According to court documents, the victim told investigators she was helping a family member paint at the Shrine Club building. When the family member had to leave to pick up more paint, Spry allegedly followed her into a room where he told her to perform a sexual act on him.

 

The victim says Spry told her "no one will ever know," and that she wouldn't get into trouble. She told police she did what he asked because she "couldn't get out and that it was going to happen anyway, so she did it."

 

Deputy Randall Koenke says he interviewed Spry on August 4, in which Spry told him "[the victim] looks to me as a father figure." Spry eventually admitted to being in the Shriner's Club that day, but denied coercing the victim into pleasuring him, according to a warrant application.

Court documents also show Spry mentioned he was attending mandatory bus training courses being held at the Skyline school district at the time.

 

Spry is now being held in Benton County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond. If convicted, Spry could face up to 7 years in prison.