Capitol Police officer taken off duty after indictments on child abuse, rape charges

A U.S. Capitol Police officer has been removed from active duty after being indicted on rape and child abuse charges, the police force confirmed Wednesday. 

Authorities say that the officer, William J. Wright III, a pastor at the Oxon Hill Assembly of Jesus Christ in Fort Washington, Md., and two other church leaders abused four teenaged girls between 2001 and 2008, as first reported by WUSA-9. 

{mosads}The Capitol Police said in a statement that they are taking the allegations “very seriously.” The force placed Wright on non-duty status “immediately” after learning of the investigation by police in Prince George’s County and will continue to monitor the case. 

Wright, 46, along with 67-year-old senior pastor Joshua William Wright and 40-year-old congregant leader Donald Jackson, faces multiple charges of child abuse, sex offenses and assault. 

The offenders, who are all related, allegedly abused the victims at several different locations while they were in a housing program for at-risk youth.