Man Who Ran Christian Arcade Charged With Molesting Boys

Sat., Dec. 13, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A man who operated a video arcade advertised as a place for Christian family entertainment has been arrested on charges he molested two boys in an apartment above the business.

Michael A. Dillingham, 36, was arraigned Thursday on charges he sodomized a 14-year-old boy over a period of two years. Less than an hour after he made bail, detectives arrested him again on charges he molested an 11-year-old boy last year. He remained in jail in lieu of $550,000 bail.

Detectives believe Dillingham preyed on troubled boys who spent too much time at the arcade and were ripe to be groomed by a pedophile, said Deputy District Attorney Michael Newman.

Dillingham was arrested on Wednesday after a 14-year-old boy came forward and said Dillingham had sodomized him five times over the past two years. The boy also described sexual instruments used on him, according to court records.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Newman said he expected there were many more victims.

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Man Who Ran Christian Arcade Charged With Molesting Boys

Jesse Tinsley

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