DETROIT: A former pastor from Deseronto, Ontario, Canada appeared in federal court on February 25 to face charges of traveling in foreign commerce to have sex with a minor, announced Acting Special Agent in Charge James Harris, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Dawn Ison, United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Michigan on Monday.

Charged was Timothy Raymond Milley, 68, who was a Minister at the Cataraqui Church in Deseronto, Ontario, Canada.

According to court records, Milley met a 15 year-old girl on the internet and began communicating with her frequently using a popular messaging application. Milley requested that the child create and send him nude images of herself. Milley, who used the alias “Red Rider,” spoke frequently to the victim about sex. On June 20, 2013, Milley traveled from his Ontario home to a town in the Eastern District of Michigan. Milley picked the victim up in front of her high school, then took her to a local Best Western motel. Milley then had the child perform sex acts on him at the hotel room. Milley returned to Canada the next day. Thereafter, Milley stopped communicating with the victim. In early 2020, the victim learned that Milley had been arrested for luring a child in Canada. The victim contacted law enforcement, leading to her further disclosures. Milley was extradited from Canada this week.

“I commend this victim for coming forward after these many years to disclose the abuse she suffered. Our office supports victims of sexual abuse, and encourages victims to contact law enforcement, regardless of whether the abuse was recent or in the past,” Ison said. “Protecting children from abuse and holding those individuals who would victimize vulnerable kids accountable is something our office is passionate about.”

“HSI is dedicated to safeguarding our communities from sexual predators, especially those in positions of trust,” said Harris. “Working with our partners, we will continue to prioritize the innocence and well-being of children by diligently investigating online sexual offenses involving minors.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent.