Child advocate speaks on dangers of abuse
after former Hope Church volunteer charged with rape

BARTLETT, Tenn. (WMC) - A man who ran a taekwondo gym and volunteered at a large church in Cordova has pleaded not guilty to rape in Shelby County Court.

Action News 5 spoke with a child advocate who shared how abuse can impact children, as well as the signs to look out for and what adults can do to protect kids.

“A person who abuses a child can be absolutely anyone,” Keita Cooley said.

Friday morning, we heard from Miller’s attorney following his court appearance.

“So, at this point Mr. Miller has been indicted on the allegations, we have waived—reading of that indictment—we’ve entered a not guilty plea,” Attorney Chris Whitten said.

John Miller spent years volunteering with youth at Hope Church in Cordova.

Thursday, a spokesperson at Hope Church confirmed with Action News 5 Miller’s membership that he was a volunteer, but the church would not confirm how long he was a member nor how long he volunteered.

Friday afternoon, Action News 5 spoke with Miller’s ex-wife by phone.

She did not want to speak on camera but told us they divorced in 2017, and they previously owned a Taekwondo gym before closing it the same year.

Miller’s ex-wife also says her biggest concern is the safety of the children her ex-husband came in contact with.

“Sometimes a child is being abused, and you may never know,” Cooley said. You never suspect. Children are the most resilient little people in the world."

Cooley, who’s worked with abused children for decades, says it can be difficult to recognize signs of child abuse.

“Not a lot of people think of a child who is acting out as being possibly abused,” she said. “Children do what they have to do to get your attention. And if they know that if they misbehave to get your attention, then they will.”

Overall, she wants people to take this away: abusers can be anyone.

“It does not matter. Every race, religion, socioeconomic status - the well-known, the unknown...it does not matter. A perpetrator can absolutely be anyone and we have to do better in the way that we respond.”

She also urges parents to have the tough and uncomfortable conversations.

“We can’t sweep it under the rug, we have to confront it head on,” Cooley said.

She tells Action News 5 that when abuse occurs it’s critical to let kids know it’s never their fault.

“They’re not going to get in trouble if they tell. You know, they didn’t do anything wrong. I’m here to help and I’m here to listen but most importantly so many people need to know that we should not judge our children,” Cooley said.

Miller is due back in court in Shelby County Court on February 14.