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2008-12-02 issue:

Mennos in the News: Mission worker indicted

by Pete DeLea, Daily News Record

Print Article

From DNRonline:

A grand jury has indicted a former Mennonite missionary on charges of producing child pornography and taking indecent liberties with a child, court records show.

Andrew Max Eggman Jr., 45, of 2927 Mount Clinton Pike, Harrisonburg, Va., was indicted by a Rockingham County grand jury Nov. 17 on two felony counts of producing child pornography and one count of indecent liberties, stemming from an incident in August 2004, according to court records.

Eggman, arrested earlier this week in Porterville, Calif., is fighting extradition to Virginia, said Sgt. Felicia Glick of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office.

Rockingham County Commonwealth's attorney Marsha Garst said she couldn't discuss the details of the case. But crimes involving children, she said, can't be taken lightly.

"This case is a top priority for my office," said Garst. "We have to make sure juveniles in our area are not sexually exploited."

Sources close to the investigation say he used a hidden camera to film a minor relative having sex with international exchange students enrolled at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg. Sources say the boy gave the women alcohol and drugs before the sexual acts.

There is no indication that any of the students were minors.

The indictments state that Eggman videotaped or photographed someone younger than 18 in a "restroom, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning booth, bedroom" or a similar location.

EMU officials say they are cooperating with the investigation but declined to comment further.

"We have been informed that there is a criminal investigation and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time," said Jim Bishop, EMU's public information officer.

Bishop did say that Eggman was never employed at the university.

The Investigation
Glick said the investigation began after someone overheard a conversation at a prayer group and relayed the information to the sheriff's office.

Glick said Eggman conspired with a business partner in California to make the pornographic movies and sell them. It's unclear if the business partner has been charged.

Sources say the movies may have been sold in Asia.

Glick said the case was difficult to investigate because Eggman was frequently out of the country serving as a missionary and the victims in the case were unaware of the videotapes.

"You didn't have complaining victims because a lot of them didn't know they were being filmed," Glick said. Glick does not know the number of victims.

Elaborating on the indictment, she said the incidents took place at Eggman's home on Mount Clinton Pike.

Missionary Work
In a May 2005 Virginia Mennonite Missions (VMM) newsletter called Connections, Eggman writes a first-person narrative about an upcoming mission trip to China.

"When I was in the Sichuan province of China visiting different universities ... I found that all my gifts and talents came together," he wrote. "I was very surprised how well I mixed and connected with the students. I felt like God has been preparing me to this point to touch university students in China."

Lois Maust, acting president of VMM, said Eggman was supposed to serve a year in China but he was called back early after the allegations surfaced.

Read the article on DNRonline.

From a Virginia Mennonite Missions release:
Andrew and Lisa Eggman were assigned to teach English to university students in Chongqing, China beginning July 2005. Their appointment was terminated and they were asked to return home in December 2005 after VMM received allegations of misconduct on the part of Andrew prior to assignment.
 
"We welcome your thoughts and prayers for those directly affected during this time," said Loren Horst, president of VMM. "This situation has not been easy, either for the extended Eggman family, Virginia Mennonite Missions, or for others. We all need God’s wisdom and guidance in the days ahead."

Since VMM does not have direct contracts with universities in China, the Eggman family, while appointed by Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions, had a direct contract with the university in Chongqing. The termination of appointment with VMM was effective on Dec. 2, 2005.

As the mission arm of Virginia Mennonite Conference, VMM has sent out approximately 160 persons to 17 countries in the past year in short-and long-term service. 

"Placing that many workers on an annual basis, there is always the risk of an unexpected transition," said Horst. "We are fortunate to have a strong team of staff, mission workers, and partner churches who work with us to ensure that the ongoing work continues in a stable and integral fashion." 

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