South Side church pastor accused of molesting girl

The pastor of a South Side church molested a girl during counseling sessions in his office, Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday.

George Waddles started counseling the girl at Zion Hill Baptist Church when she was 13 in late 2011, Assistant State’s Attorney Tara Pease-Harkin said.

As the counseling sessions progressed a year later, Waddles often told the girl he had dreams about her and thought about her when she wasn’t around, Pease-Harkin said. Once he asked her to lift up her shirt, but she refused, Pease-Harkin said. Waddles also allegedly tried to hug and kiss the girl several times during the meetings at the church, 1460 W. 78th St.

Then, in May or June 2014, Waddles asked the girl to sit on his lap, Pease-Harkin said. The girl complied.

Waddles, now 67, proceeded to kiss the girl’s neck, put a hand inside her pants and touched her groin, Pease-Harkin said.

The girl left Waddles’ office and told her mother what had happened a month later.

Then between July 2014 and February of this year, Waddles admitted what he had done in front of the girl, her mother and his wife, Pease-Harkin said. He then allegedly asked the group not to contact police.

The victim recorded Waddles’ confession on her cellphone, Pease-Harkin said. His admission was also on the girl’s mother’s tablet, which the police took, Pease-Harkin said.

Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Waddles released on his own recognizance Wednesday for aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The judge also recommended that Waddles be placed on electronic monitoring while he awaits trial.

Two other church members said that Waddles attacked them, prosecutors said. Waddles was never charged in those alleged incidents.

One woman said when she was 11 and a member of the parish in 1996, Waddles hugged her, kissed her and touched her buttocks when she was in his office. She also accused Waddles of making her touch his penis, Pease-Harkin said.

Another alleged victim said when she sought counseling with Waddles in 2006, he hugged and kissed her and kept her from leaving his office.

Waddles has been the pastor of Zion Hill for over two decades, according to The National Baptist Convention website. In 2005, he was given the “Preacher’s Cup” Award for excellence in expositional preaching and teaching.