Agents: Missionary admits to sex abuse against children in Brazil Published On: Jun 04 2013 07:04:14 PM EDT Updated On: Jun 05 2013 05:46:34 AM EDT Share on facebook Share on twitter
ORLANDO, Fla. - A missionary from the Sanford’s New Tribes Mission faces charges of child sex abuse, and investigators said he also took pictures of the acts.
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Warren Scott Kennell was arrested at Orlando International Airport after a flight from Brazil.
According to documents from federal investigators, agents started looking into Kennell because of a tip involving online child pornography sharing.
Two pornographic images were found on Kennell’s computer. He admitted to detectives that he was the one depicted in the photos abusing girls.
Kennell admitted he molested four children while in Brazil, according to agents.
A New Tribe's spokeswoman said a note was distributed internally about Kennell's arrest.
The communication said in part, "We are heartsick that children have been victimized. While we are trying to confirm whether there is a connection between the accused's personal actions and our organization, we have put the accused on immediate leave."
Kennell was booked into the Seminole County Jail. His arrest is not the first of someone involved with New Tribes.
In 2006, a part-time instructor, George Goolde, was charged with molesting two boys.
In 2008, a youth pastor faced charges of child porn possession.
Two years later, victim Kari Mikiton, spoke about abuse suffered at the hands of New Tribes employees.
In 2011, a woman sued New Tribes and claimed she was raped several times by a worker named Leslie Emory. In an interview with WESH 2, Emory admitted to abusing girls in the Philippines in the 1980s and 1990s.
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