Reger’s victims speak out against his release from custody
On July 20, a federal grand jury handed down a five-count indictment against Susanville resident Brad Reger, 67, and prosecutors successfully opposed his release from custody.
According to the court documents, Reger has been heavily involved in various Christian schools, summer camps, youth groups and church missions since at least 1986. He has held positions as a teacher, camp counselor, church deacon, youth group leader and owner of affiliated nonprofit organizations.
The indictment alleges that Reger sexually abused three different minor victims, in Susanville, Nevada, Virginia and Poland. These offenses allegedly took place between 2006 and 2014.
According to a court document filed July 12, in US District Court, two of Reger’s victims made statements opposing his release.
Brad Reger, in a 2004 file photo.According to the court file, “On July 7, 2023, the day after defendant was taken into custody, the government filed a motion for detention …
“As predicted, additional victims and witnesses have reached out to law enforcement since the defendant’s arrest, and investigators are currently contacting and interviewing additional potential victims and witnesses. Two newly-confirmed victims (whose names have been redacted from this public filing) strongly oppose the defendant’s pretrial release.
“One victim, contacted on July 11, 2023, wrote: ‘My name is (redacted), I am a (redacted), and I am a victim of Bradley Reger. I heard about the initial arrest a few days after it happened and saw that there was a detention hearing scheduled.
“Having spent a major part of my young life around Bradley, and all of his extended family, I am extremely aware of the danger of releasing Bradley prior to the conclusion of this investigation. Bradley has formed a large international web of support over the years, people who have turned a blind eye, assisted him or been too stupid to see through his facade.
“Bradley has contacts in several foreign countries and all over the United States. Furthermore, some of the areas I was taken to during my years with Bradley were barely on a map, only accessible during tide changes or in small unlabeled clinics hidden away in church offices.
“He is good at hiding and has had high standing (wrongfully) with local Susanville law enforcement, emergency services, town leaders, religious heads, politicians and even the families of his victims. Bradley has several apparently successful companies and bank accounts that can be accessed at any time and also has had access to weapons. Normally rules are expected to be followed during court proceedings, however, having personally seen the extreme level of deceit and manipulation coupled with his access to funds, travel, families and religious safe havens, I do not, nor will I ever believe Bradley Reger should be released before the end of this investigation. Bradley Reger is a textbook flight risk in a case like this. He is not the type of man who will stand and answer for his possible crimes, he is most assuredly a man who will hide behind his family, his community, his faith and anything else he can find to avoid facing judgement. I would not feel safe for myself or my family or even Bradley’s own family knowing that Bradley Reger was free during this process. I plead with the person making the decision to keep Bradley detained until the completion of this investigation.'”
According to the court document, “Following an interview on July 11, 2023, a different, newly-confirmed victim wrote: ‘I believe it is in the best interest of me and other individuals who have suffered abuse by Bradley E. Reger that he not be released on bail. I am afraid that if he is allowed to return to Susanville, he will be free to harass me and others. We live in a small town and if I were to encounter him in my day-to-day life, it would cause me undue distress. Thank you for your consideration of the victims at this time.'”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the California Department of Consumer Affairs with assistance from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office.
