A former Echo Ranch Bible Camp volunteer has been arrested and is suspected of sexually abusing numerous boys on religious trips across the globe and in Alaska for more than a decade.
Bradley Earl Reger, 67, of California, pleaded not guilty in late July at a Sacramento courthouse after he was arrested in early July and indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts. He is charged with engaging in illicit sexual activity abroad, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and coercion and enticement.
Reger’s charges stem from the alleged abuse of three minors taking place in three separate states, and in Poland and the Philippines, from 2006 through 2014. In a statement provided to the judge assigned to Reger’s case, a survivor identified as Victim #1 alleges he personally knows “over 100” victims abused by Reger.
According to a criminal complaint, Reger, who was a former youth pastor and nurse practitioner involved in a number of Christian schools, camps and church missions, abused the boys while on religious mission trips under the guise that he was conducting “physical exams” of their genitals and nude bodies for “concerning” moles, among numerous other abuses alleged.
According to the complaint, the parents of one of the three minors, identified as Minor Victim #3, say they were coerced by Reger to allow their child, 12, into going on a trip to Alaska where some of the abuse occurred.
Randall Alderfer, the current director at Echo Ranch, confirmed Reger was a volunteer at the Juneau camp during the 1990s into the early 2000s, he said, noting he was not certain of the exact time frame Reger was in connection with the camp.
“I am not familiar with his service — it was long before I was here,” he said.
According to a statement provided by Avant Ministries, the parent organization of Echo Ranch, Reger began volunteering in the 1970s and continued to do so “sporadically over years that followed.”
“We are grieved by the reports about sexual abuse by Bradley Reger and grieve for any and all children harmed. We are monitoring the current judicial process taking place in the State of California,” it stated. “The charges of abuse in that case do not involve any of Avant’s domestic or international ministry locations. If allegations arise that do involve our ministry, we will seek to respond responsibly and compassionately.”
The statement confirmed that though Reger was not an employee of the camp, he has since been barred from affiliation with the ministry and is not allowed on any of its property.
If convicted Reger could face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct abroad, up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for coercion and enticement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The FBI is currently seeking more information about people he may have victimized as officials say they believe there are more survivors who have yet to come forward.
“We ask the community and media to help magnify this request so that victims, regardless of their current location around the world can be aware of the latest developments in this case,” stated Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
According to the state court system, Reger has no apparent criminal history in Alaska.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.
