The former youth minister Jeff Taylor, 66, has been indicted on federal charges alleging he enticed minors and traveled with the intent to engage in sexual activity with minors during his 1990–2002 tenure at The Falls Church Anglican. An independent IslerDare investigation found three men accused Taylor of sexual abuse in the 1990s and more than a dozen others reported inappropriate sexualized behavior. Taylor worked for the University of Cincinnati Foundation from 2013–2023; foundation officials say they were unaware of the allegations. He is due to be arraigned Sept. 24 and, if convicted, could face up to 105 years in prison.
Former Youth Minister Jeff Taylor Indicted On Federal Charges Alleging Grooming And Sexual Abuse Of Minors
UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute's lobby features an art collection from James J. Gardner's private collection of Rookwood Pottery, a cafe, and plenty of open space for waiting.
A former youth minister who now lives in Milford has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of attempting to engage in sexual activity with minors during his time at a Virginia church, authorities say.
Jeff Taylor, 66, appeared in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, where prosecutors said he enticed minors for illegal sexual activity and traveled with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors. The alleged conduct dates to his tenure at The Falls Church Anglican between 1990 and 2002.
Background And Employment
Taylor later moved to the Cincinnati area after serving as a youth minister at The Falls Church and at two churches in Georgia. From 2013 to 2023 he worked for the University of Cincinnati Foundation, soliciting donors and coordinating fundraising for UC Health's Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Foundation officials say a routine background check was completed before his hiring and that they were unaware of the abuse allegations while he was employed. They added his duties involved interaction with adult donors and medical professionals, not children.
Independent Investigation And Allegations
Years after Taylor left The Falls Church in 2002, the church commissioned an independent investigation by the IslerDare law firm. That review reported that three men accused Taylor of sexually abusing them as boys in the 1990s. More than a dozen others told the investigator that Taylor behaved inappropriately and asked sexualized questions, including inquiries about masturbation.
"Taylor, while employed with the Church, engaged in varying levels of conduct that was inappropriate and would fall within the definitions of sexual grooming or sexual abuse," wrote Edward Isler of IslerDare.
Isler's report also concluded that after church leaders received a credible report of abuse in 2007 — about five years after Taylor had left The Falls Church — they "failed to take all of the necessary steps to determine whether there had been other victims of sexual abuse by Taylor."
Federal Allegations
Federal prosecutors say Taylor exhibited "grooming behaviors," including sexual horseplay, asking boys about their sexual secrets, and discussing his own sexual experiences with minors. Prosecutors allege he traveled with boys to ministry events with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Court filings state Taylor "allegedly engaged or attempted to engage in sexual molestation of multiple boys."
Reaction And Legal Status
A group of former students created a website called Jeff Taylor Justice to support accusers and collect documents and news updates. The Washington Post and other national outlets previously reported on the allegations; several accusers have spoken with the FBI, according to reporting and filings.
Taylor is scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 24. If convicted on the federal counts, he faces a statutory maximum sentence that could total up to 105 years in prison. As the case proceeds, the allegations remain charges, and Taylor is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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