Southern Baptist leaders vow to release secret list of accused sex abusers Southern Baptist Convention leaders promised Tuesday to release a secret list of hundreds of ministers and church personnel accused of sexual abuse. The announcement comes two days after a third-party investigation found church leaders suppressed reports of child molestation and other sexual abuse for nearly two decades. An attorney for the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee announced its decision to release the list during a virtual meeting, where top leaders promised to change the culture and listen to survivors. The 288-page report, commissioned last year by GuidePost Solutions and released Sunday, found that executive committee staff members, including the committee's ... Continue reading... https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/202...aders-list-accused-sex-abusers/3531653428227/ Find in Internet Archives [google]Southern Baptist leaders vow to release secret list of accused sex abusers[/google] Download and read the entire report here:
Southern Baptist Convention releases secret list of accused sex abusers Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention on Thursday night released a list naming hundreds of ministers and church employees who have been accused of sexual abuse over the last 20 years. The release of the 205-page list comes after the church's executive committee earlier this week vowed to make it public in response to the results of a third-party investigation that found Southern Baptist Convention leaders had suppressed reports of child molestation and other forms of sexual abuse. "This list is being made public for the first time as an initial, but important step towards addressing the scourge of sexual ... Continue reading... https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/05/27/Southern-Baptist-Convention-sex-abuse-list/6621653622384/ Find in Internet Archives [google]Southern Baptist Convention releases secret list of accused sex abusers[/google]
Southern Baptist Convention releases list of SC church leaders accused of abuse On Thursday night, the Southern Baptist Convention released a list of more than 700 ministers and church staff who have been accused of abuse. Two dozen clergy and other church staff from South Carolina are listed in the report. The list was originally kept secret, but Guidepost Solution revealed its existence in an investigative report. On the Southern Baptist Convention website, it says: “This list is being made public for the first time as an initial, but important, step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform in the Convention. Each entry in this list reminds us of ... Below is a list of leaders accused in South Carolina: Name Year Case notes Denomination *Name redacted 2018 A youth minister was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of second-degree assault and battery. Report says case awaiting sentencing and no news reports were published on the incident as of Feb. 21, 2022. Suspect is not on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Mark Aderholt 2018 Arrested on allegations of sexual assault that occurred between 1996 and 1997 when Aderholt was a 25-year-old Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary student. Victim was 16 years old. Aderholt pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury. SBC *Name redacted 2010 Pastor accused of molesting two boys over 5-year period. Charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Free Will Baptist Donald Chrisler Batson 1996 Youth minister at Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Easley, SC pleaded guilty to 17 counts of criminal conduct involving two minor girls in 1991. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Jerry Dean Blaxton 2017 Youth and music minister of Sand Hill Baptist Church in Varnville, SC pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor in Spartanburg County. Investigators found him on a file-sharing network posting files containing child pornography. They found 180 additional child porn images on his computer. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC James William Bell 2002 Youth minister at Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Anderson, SC sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing four boys in 2002. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Stephen Douglas Berry 2011 Associate pastor and youth pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Union, SC. Convicted of criminal sexual contact with a minor. Victim met Berry while he was serving as a youth pastor. Sentenced to 15 years. Currently incarcerated in the SC Department of Corrections. SBC Timothy Lynn Brumit 2008 Former high school teacher and pastor of Sunset Boulevard Baptist Church in Aiken, SC. Sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to entice a person he believed to be a 13-yr-old boy to engage in illicit sexual conduct and for transporting child porn through the internet. Uncertain *Name redacted 2016 Youth group volunteer charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. SBC Audrey Grabarkiewicz 2012 Former preschool teacher at Lake Bowen Baptist Church in Inman, SC pleaded guilty to 10 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Sentenced to probation and 120 hours of community service. Grabarkiewicz allegedly hosted summertime sex gatherings for middle and high school students. SBC Patrick Clinton Hattler 2014 Employee of Cornerstone Community Church in Orangeburg, SC convicted of first-degree assault and battery involving an adult female congregant. Pleaded guilty in 2001 to assault with intent to kill charge. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Gregory Martin Hill 2011 Youth group worker at FBC in Dillon, SC. He exchanged videos of a sexual nature with 14 and 15-year-old girls. PLeaded guilty to disseminating harmful material to minors. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC John Gleason Hubner 2009 Youth worker at FBC in Columbia, SC. Convicted in South Carolina of lewd act on a child younger than 16. Also convicted of unlawful sexual contact in Maine. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Norman Henley Keesee 2010 Music minister in Greenwood, SC accused of molesting a child with cerebral palsy during music lessons. Pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Marion Leon Kosier Jr. 1995, 2009 Former pastor of Branchville Baptist Church in Branchville, SC and Harleyville Christian Church in Summerville, SC. Convicted in 1982 of criminal sexual conduct with minors. Convicted in 1984 for criminal sexual conduct with minors. Convicted in 1996 of exposure of private parts in a lewd manner. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Kevin Ogle 2007 Former pastor of Northgate Colonial Baptist Church in Camden, SC. Arrested for cybersex with an officer he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Pleaded guilty to 15 counts of sexual exploitation of children. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Kamron Eugene Reames 2015 Associate pastor of Central Baptist Church in Darlington, SC accused of touching a young boy. Convicted of second-degree assault and battery in 2017. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC Charles “DJ” Fishburne Rhodes IIII 2011 Teacher and coach at First Baptist Church in Charleston, SC pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct after admitting to asking a 12-year-old girl for sex through text messages. Plea deal resulted in no jail time and he is not required to register as a sex offender. SBC *Name redacted 2017 Former minister of education charged with nine counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. SBC Dennis Fred Rutledge 2015 Minister of music at Camp Creek Baptist Church in Lancaster, SC pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child younger than 11. Also pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct for a separate case. Currently incarcerated in the SC Department of Corrections. SBC James Garner Smith 2014 Youth pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in West Union, SC pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and battery for sexual abuse of 13-year-old girl. Abuse occurred at the church and in cars. It was reported by the church pastor. He is listed on the SC sex offender registry. SBC *Name omitted because charges dismissed 2007 Director of Anchor Baptist Church’s Missions International in Pisgah Forest, NC. Charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor for allegations of acts that occurred at Tabernacle Baptist Church’s children’s home in Greenville, SC. Charges were later dismissed. Unknown *Name redacted 2019 Pastor accused of trying to strangle a pregnant woman outside his church. Charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature. SBC *Name redacted 2009 Active member of SC church and former deacon convicted of two counts of kidnapping and attempted robbery of a bank. SBC Continue reading... https://www.wistv.com/2022/05/27/so...eleases-list-sc-church-leaders-accused-abuse/ Find in Internet Archives [google]Southern Baptist Convention releases list of SC church leaders accused of abuse[/google]
At least 40 Georgia cases listed on Southern Baptist Convention’s secret sex abuser database Southern Baptist Convention church leaders released Thursday a secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. Southern Baptist is the largest Protestant denomination in America. A 288-page report released Sunday by Guidepost Solutions found that the church ignored claims of sexual abuse by ministers and church leaders over the past 20 years and kept a database of alleged abusers. The database contained more than 700 entries from cases that largely spanned from 2000 to 2019. Channel 2 Action News went through all 205 pages of the database and found at least 40 of the ... Here is the list of Georgia cases listed on the database in alphabetical order and how the church documented them. The full 205-page database can be found here. Perez Blackmon, abuse reported in 2010: The Albany Herald reported Rosinvick Missionary Baptist Church in Blakely, Georgia knowingly hired Blackmon, a registered sex offender. Blackmon did not admit guilt but pleaded to a statutory rape charge rather than face a jury on charges of child molestation and rape. On the statutory rape guilty plea, Blackmon was given 120 days in jail and 15 years on probation. Kevin DeRosa, abuse reported in 1994: DeRosa, 33, a former youth minister at Western Hills Baptist Church in Cobb County, was convicted of molesting several male teens between 1992-93. He was in Paulding County jail on similar charges. He is listed on the Georgia Sex Offenders Registry. Robert Smith Dorsett, abuse reported in 1999: In 1999, Robert Smith Dorsett, 65, was sentenced to 30 years in prison when he pleaded guilty to 15 sex crimes against seven boys between 1970-1998. Dorsett was a former youth minister and training director at FBC in Augusta, Georgia. He is registered sex offender in South Carolina. Alexander Lawrence Edwards, abuse reported in 2016: Alexander Edwards was arrested on charges of molesting an 11-year-old Marietta boy. He worked as a volunteer youth minister at Eastside Baptist Church. He was convicted of two counts of sexual battery in 2017 and ordered to serve three years in prison with credit for time served on Aug. 18, 2017. He is a registered sex offender in Georgia. Gunther Fiek, abuse reported in 2001: Gunther Fiek was a martial arts Sunday School and soccer camp instructor at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta. In 2001, Fiek was sentenced to more than 90 years after being convicted of 21 different felony offenses, including aggravated child molestation and felony child molestation, according to his Georgia prison and court records. Derek Gillett, abuse reported in 2008: Derek Gillett pleaded guilty to two child molestation charges in May 2008 and sentenced to 10 years in prison with 10 years probation. Gillett was a pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Forsyth County and previously was a youth director at Midway United Methodist Church in Alpharetta. He is a registered Sex Offender in Georgia. Tommy Gilmore, abuse reported in 2006: Tommy Gilmore was accused of sexually assaulting a teen in 1968. The alleged victim settled a civil suit with FBC Farmers Branch in Texas. Gilmore was a former employee at FBC in Atlanta. James Benjamin Harris, abuse reported in 2012: James Benjamin Harris was a volunteer middle school Sunday School teacher and youth counselor at Brookwood Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. The church said he passed a background check. In 2012, Harris was convicted on three counts of child molestation and one of enticing a child for indecent purposes in Gwinnett County, He was sentenced to 12 years in confinement, three years probation on first charge and 15 years probation on remaining three charges. Jeffery D. Heberlein, abuse reported in 2009: Jeffery D. Heberlein pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl from 2003-2004. He served as a pastor at Akers Chapel Church in Plainville, GA, Mount Gilead and Berdan Baptist churches in Greene County. Larry Michael Holmes, abuse reported in 2001: In 2001, Larry Michael Holmes, a former minister at Bishop Baptist Church in Oconee County, was convicted of abusing a 14-yr-old girl. He was registered as a sex offender in Georgia for 2001 convictions of aggravated child molestation and child molestation. Joshua Humphrey, abuse reported in 2010: In 2010, Joshua Humphrey, 21, was charged with two counts of sodomy, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, public indecency, cruelty to children and simple battery. Zion Baptist Church in Braselton said Humphrey was not a youth leader, but was in the process of being checked out and interviewed for the position. The church had not yet run a criminal background check. Humphrey pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation and was sentenced to 20 years. Antoine Louis Jenkins, abuse reported in 2012: In 2008, Antoine Louis Jenkins posed as a girl on MySpace to lured two boys (ages 13 and 14) and attempting to lure a third (age 15) out of their homes at night for sexual encounters. He then molested then boys. The database listed him as a intern summer camp organizer at Hebron Baptist Church. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 after being convicted of 19 felony charges, including three counts of aggravated child molestation, 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of child molestation and three other charges. Carlton Johnson, abuse reported in 2007: Carlton Johnson, a former choir director at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Augusta, GA, was a teacher’s aide who was tried and acquitted of sexual battery against a 6-year-old in 1994 and 14-year-old in 2002. Daniel Lewis Kent, abuse reported in 2015: Daniel Louis Kent, a youth leader at First Baptist Church in Duluth, was arrested and charged with four counts of electronic transfer of obscene material to a minor. He was not charged for having sexual contact with a teen because the age of consent in Georgia is 16. Michael Lee Krug, abused reported in 2002: Michael Lee Krug, an associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, GA, pleaded guilty to aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 15 years probation and released. He is not listed as a registered sex offender in Georgia. James Louis Kubicek, abuse reported in 2011: James Louis Kubicek, a youth minister at First Baptist Church in Valdosta, was convicted of child molestation, sexual exploitation of a child and enticing a child for indecent purposes. Sentenced to 20 years on the first charge, five years on the second charge and 10 years on the third charge. William C. Lewis, abuse reported in 2015: William C. Lewis, a youth pastor at First Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Brunswick, GA, was arrested on two counts of child molestation. He was convicted in 2017 of sexual battery against Child Under 16 years. He is a registered sex offender. Mark Kit Lucas, abuse reported in 2009: Mark Kit Lucas worked as an organist and youth minister at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Garden City, Georgia. He was charged with aggravated sexual battery in an assault of a youth. He registered as a sex offender in Georgia for a 2011 child molestation conviction. Charles Randy May, abuse reported in 2016: Charles Randy May was a volunteer leader for a children’s ministry at New Victoria Baptist Church in Woodstock. He was sentenced to 20 years on Oct. 21, 2016, after pleading guilty to four charges including two counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sodomy and exploitation of a disabled adult, according to Cherokee County records. James Calvin McCurry, abuse reported in 1990: James Calvin McCurry, a former pastor at Greater Zion Hills Baptist Church in Smyrna, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for abusing an 11-year-old girl between 1985-86, according an The Atlanta Journal and Constitution report in 1990. Thomas McGowan, abuse reported in 1988: In 1988, Thomas McGowan was sentenced to three years in prison and 17 years probation for sexually abusing two girls. He worked as a pastor at New Grace Baptist Church in Powder Springs. He also worked at Morning View Baptist in Rockmart and reportedly left two prior churches amid allegations. Jimmie Lee Mills, abuse reported in 2004: In 2004, Jimmie Lee Mills, a church volunteer at Providence Baptist Church in Augusta, was accused of abusing a 10-year-old and 11-year-old girls. Jacob Alan Morris, abuse reported in 2009: Jacob Alan “Jake” Morris, 25, began serving a maximum sentence of life in Georgia State prison in 2010 after being convicted of 11 sex crimes in Hall and Douglas counties. He worked as the children’s director at Concord Baptist Church in Clermont, Georgia. Morris is the son of Senior Pastor Alan Morris. Kevin Ogle, abuse reported in 2007: In 2006, Kevin Ogle, a former pastor at Northgate Colonial Baptist Church in Camden, South Carolina, was arrested for cyber sex with officer who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Ogle pleaded guilty to 15 charges of sexual exploitation of children and was sentenced to five years with 20 years probation. He registered as a sex offender in South Carolina for a sexual exploitation of children conviction from Georgia. Douglas Randall Pope, abuse reported in 2011: Douglas Randall Pope, a youth pastor at Merrywood Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia pleaded guilty to child molestation. He registered as a sex offender in Georgia. Norman Anthony Pugh, abuse reported in 2009: Norman Anthony Pugh, a youth minister at Arnoldsville Baptist Church in Arnoldsville, Georgia, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 years in prison with another seven years on probation for inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl. He was previously acquitted in November 2006 on charges of molesting another teenage church member. Shannon Rhodes, abuse reported in 2002: In 2002, Shannon Rhodes, a youth minister at Sunrise Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, was found guilty of abusing a 14-year-old girl. Matthew Brent Sheffield, abuse reported in 2014: Matthew Brent Sheffield, a volunteer at First Baptist Church in Canton, pleaded guilty to a sex crime. He received eight years of probation for sending illicit text messages and making sexually suggestive comments to male students. He registered as a sex offender in Georgia for two 2014 convictions following guilty pleas involving sexual battery of a child under 16, court and state records show. John Samuel Stafford, abuse reported in 2016: John Samuel Stafford, a janitor at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sexual battery conviction and received a 12-month jail sentence. He only had to serve 30 days in jail and 11 months of the sentence on probation. Phillip Glenn Terrell, abuse reported in 2010: Phillip Glenn Terrell, a youth pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gainesville, pleaded guilty in 2010 to molesting two teenage boys. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Forsyth County. The sentence runs concurrent with the Hall County sentence, meaning Terrell will serve a total of 18 years in prison, with credit for three years spent in jail awaiting trial. He also must serve 32 years on probation after his release from prison, with more than 20 restrictions that include no contact with minors. Henry Bazil Waters, abuse reported in 1989: Henry Bazil Waters was convicted for sexually abusing three boys in 1989. Waters had an unknown position at Grace Baptist Temple Church in Statesboro, Georgia. Dwight Gregory Watson, abuse reported in 2016: Dwight Gregory Watson, 43, was arrested with 50 counts of sexual exploitation of children. His computers were allegedly found to contain videos and images related to child porn. He pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of sexual child exploitation. He was sentenced to 60 years with the first five years being served in jail and the remainder to be served on probation. Larry William Whitley, abuse reported in 2009: Larry William Whitley, was convicted of child molestation and aggravated sodom. In 2002, he fled Douglasville violating his probation and failing to register as a sex offender. He fled to Knoxville, Tennessee where he volunteered at a local Baptist church. In 2009, he was caught. Charles S. Woodall, abuse reported in 2017: Charles S. Woodall was convicted in 2017 on 11 felony charges, including child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and violation of the oath of public office. Woodall was a former youth leader at Northway Church on Zebulon Road in Macon. Continue reading... https://news.yahoo.com/least-40-georgia-cases-listed-164327335.html Find in Internet Archives [google]At least 40 Georgia cases listed on Southern Baptist Convention’s secret sex abuser database[/google]
Here is a list of local Southern Baptist Church leaders accused of sex abuse In response to an explosive investigation, top Southern Baptists have released a previously secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. The 205-page database was made public late Thursday. It includes more than 700 entries from cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019. Its existence became widely known Sunday when the independent firm, Guidepost Solutions, included it in its bombshell report detailing how the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee mishandled allegations of sex abuse, stonewalled numerous survivors and prioritized protecting the SBC from liability. The Executive Committee redacted many of the names because ... Brandon James Carter: In court, Carter’s accuser said he sexually assaulted her at his home when she was 13 years old. She said she kept the secret for nearly a decade. Carter’s attorney said the former youth minister and school teacher admitted his crime during a session with a counselor and readily accepted his punishment. Carter, a former East Lincoln high school and middle school music teacher, became the youth and music minister at Zion Baptist Church in Cherryville. He was convicted in Lincoln County in 2013 and sentenced to 22 to 36 months active. According to records from the North Carolina Department ... Benjamin Hollifield: Hollifield was an associate in charge of youth at Piedmont Baptist Church when he was arrested in May 2015 and charged with 10 counts of statutory rape and four counts of taking indent liberties with children. He pled guilty on all charges in 2016 and was sentenced under one consolidated charge of indecent liberties to 15 to 23 years in prison Jude Dayton Hughes: Hughes was a full-time custodian at Avery County High School and the pastor at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church. Investigators said he sent two naked photos of himself to who he thought was a teenage girl and student at the high school. What Hughes didn’t know was deputies had taken over the student’s Facebook account -- the photos were never seen by the teenager, but ended up in the hands of deputies. Hughes pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a student and was sentenced to 4 to 14 months in prison and 12 months of supervised probation. He had a probation ... Harley Michael Keough: In court, Keough was accused by several women of groping them when they came to the church for help. Keough was a pastor at King James Baptist Church in Bessemer City before he was found guilty of two counts of sexual battery. He did not go to prison and was instead given 18 months probation and had to register as a sex offender and provide a DNA sample as often requested. After his conviction in 2010, Keough said he plans on continuing work at the Bessemer City church despite the fact that he must register as a sex offender. Keough ... Marty Eugene Meadows: Meadows pled guilty to several indecent liberties charges dating back to 2002, according to the Gaston County clerk of courts. Dennis Fred Rutledge: A music director for more than 40 years at Camp Creek Baptist Church outside Lancaster, Rutledge pled guilty in 2015 to molesting a 10-year-old girl at his home. Prosecutors said it happened at least half a dozen times in 2013, but Rutledge pled guilty to one count and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was also accused of sexual abusing another young girl. He plead guilty to another sex charge, criminal sexual conduct with a minor third-degree, involving that 8-year-old child. Paul Shives: A former deacon at New Hope Baptist Church in Gastonia, Shives was accused of taking indecent liberties with two girls at his home in 2006. Prosecutors said Shives initiated a game of truth or dare with the girls that involved them taking off their clothes. Shives pled not guilty and went to trial where he was sentenced to prison. Clyde Wesley Way: Way was a volunteer with the Stanly Baptist Association when he accused of committing sex crimes against four boys while at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly in 2013. Way, who was also a substitute teacher in Stanly County, assaulted the boys who were between the ages of 10 and 13. According to court documents, he forced the boys to play strip poker while Way was the chaperone on the youth group’s trip to church camp. Way was charged with 16 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of indecent liberties with a child and four counts of ... Lawrence Webber: An associate pastor at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church, Webber was accused of three counts of first degree rape and five counts of indecent liberties with a child. Webber was already a registered sex offender in the state of North Carolina before the allegations in 2008. Continue reading... https://news.yahoo.com/list-local-southern-baptist-church-214704199.html Find in Internet Archives [google]Here is a list of local Southern Baptist Church leaders accused of sex abuse[/google]
Mid-South church leaders on Southern Baptist accused abuser list Top Southern Baptist church leaders released a 205-page previously secret and explosive list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse, including many pastors from the Mid-South. The 205-page database includes both visible and redacted entries. The nearly 300-page report detailed how the Southern Baptist Executive Committee mishandled sex abuse allegations and stonewalled numerous survivors. The SBC’s alleged abuser list includes many pastors from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Southern Baptist leaders release secret accused abuser list It was released in response to the highly critical bombshell report by Guidepost Solutions. The database shows in 2006 Paul ... Read the full list of Mid-South church officials included on the SBC’s list below (organized by state): ARKANSAS: 2015 – Nathaniel Hull Jr., preacher’s son, First Baptist Church, West Helena, AR Hull was arrested in 2015 for the rape of a 13- year-old girl. DNA confirms the victim’s baby is the offender’s. 2012 – Paul “Kevin” Hendrix, youth minister, FBC in Cherokee Village, AR He admitted he had engaged in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. He was fined $3,500, sentenced to 120 months of probation, and must register as a sex offender. 2019 – Derek L Smittle, youth volunteer, First Baptist Centerton, Centerton, AR Smittle was arrested on January 14, 2019, in connection with first-degree sexual assault involving a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl who went to the church. Even though the pastor stated that Smittle was not a youth pastor or in a position of church authority, Smittle told police he had been teaching Sunday School for four years and hosting Bible studies at his home. Former Centerton Church Volunteer Arrested On Sexual Assault Charge 2012 – Travis Payne, pastor, South Texarkana Baptist Church, Texarkana, AR Payne was convicted of sexual assault. The victim was reported to be a 3-year-old. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Later died. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Pastor found guilty 2012 – 2009 David Kent Pierce, former minister of music, FBC, Benton, AR He pleaded guilty in September 2009 to four counts of sexual indecency with a child involving 3 young men. He served 2 years of a 10-year sentence. His parole decision was postponed. He also pleaded guilty in 2009 to four counts of sexual indecency with a child in Arkansas. He was sentenced to 72 months on two of those charges and 48 additional months on two other charges, plus additional time on probation. He served time in Arkansas prison and is now a registered sex offender in Florida. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2017 – Richard Thomas Riley, a former teacher at LifeWay Christian School He was sentenced to 24 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student. The school is a ministry of First Baptist Centerton, Centerton, AR. Former Centerton teacher sentenced to 24 years in prison 2018 – 1998 Timothy Lee Reddin, 49 In 1998, Reddin, while serving as DOM, Central Baptist Association, Benton, AR, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for having child pornography on his computer. AR SBC 153 and 1998 In 2018, Reddin messaged an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent posing online as an underage male to arrange a meeting for sex. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of attempted online enticement of a minor. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison but could receive a life sentence as well as a $250,000 fine. He has served Southern Baptist as the following: Pastor, Turner Street Baptist Church, Springdale, AR (Not on SBC Workspace) Pastor, Central Baptist Church, Conway, AR Pastor, Pines Baptist Church, Quitman, AR. Prior to 1998, he served as the following: pastor, Barcelona Road Baptist Church, Hot Springs Village, AR, pastor, Elmcrest Baptist Church, Abilene, TX 1998 – Director of Missions, Central Baptist Association in Benton, AR, and taught High School for 3 years in Heber Springs and McCrory Springdale Pastor Admits Plan To Meet Teen For Sex 18 years after child porn conviction, Baptist pastor accused of trying to entice a minor Springdale pastor arrested in connection with seeking sex 2018 – Mark Aderholt, 46 He was arrested in 2018 in South Carolina on charges of sexual assault which occurred in 1996-97 when Aderholt (25) was an SWBTS student. The victim was 16. In 2019, Aderholt pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury crimes against. Plea deal. His sentence was wiped clean and he will not be on the Sex Offender Registry. Aderholt was employed by the IMB from 2000 to 2008. In 2007, IMB was informed of the abuse and an internal investigation lead to Aderholt’s resignation. IMB did not report it to the police. He went on to be employed at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, Central Baptist Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas, and the South Carolina Baptist Convention. In 2018, IMB’s president David Platt issued a public statement of apology. Additional investigations led to policy changes at IMB. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2016 – David Wayne Farren He sexually assaulted a 16-yr-old girl in 2013 when he was her youth pastor and another teenage girl he met at church. He is to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. He worked in the following positions: Lead Pastor, of Anchor Church in Texarkana, AR, pastor and youth director of other Texarkana-area churches – Heritage Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church, and Faith Church. Pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault; sentenced to 180 months in 2017 in the negotiated plea agreement. In Arkansas state prison. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Texarkana pastor sentenced to 15 years for sexual abuse 2002 – John Lankston Anderson Jr., former pastor, Carbon Hill First Baptist, Carbon Hill, AL He was charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of juveniles under the age of 12, pleaded guilty to all charges, and was sentenced to 3 yrs. Immediately transferred to Arkansas, where he pleaded guilty to another sex abuse charge and was sentenced to 10 more years. Served prison sentences in both states. He worked in the following positions: Pulpit preacher at Southside in Russellville, Natural Bridge Baptist, West Blocton Baptist, Hartselle Baptist, and other churches in Mississippi Pleaded guilty in 2002 to 3 counts of sexual abuse in Alabama and was sentenced to three years. Immediately transferred to Arkansas, where he pleaded guilty to another sex abuse charge and was sentenced to 10 more years. Served prison sentences in both states. On the Sex Offender Registry in Tennessee and listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2010 – Tim Ray Ballard, principal of a Baptist-sponsored Christian school, Sylvan Hills First Baptist Church, AR He was charged with one count of sexual assault in the first degree and four counts of sexual assault in the second degree, in conjunction with his alleged relationship with former students at the school. Became a registered sex offender in Arkansas for offenses of first- and second-degree sexual assault in 2011. Received five years probation. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Coach gets 60 days, five years probation Baptist school coach, principal charged with sexual assault 2015 – Timothy E. Patton, former music minister, Danville First Baptist Church, Danville, AR He was arrested following accusations of 2nd-degree sexual assault, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and the purchase or possession of intoxicating liquor by minor. A court document from August 6, 2015, showed Patton will plead no contest to sexual assault, 2nd degree, a Class B felony, years ADC with 3 additional years SIS. 1 day jail time credit. The defendant will register as a sex offender. MISSISSIPPI: 2011 – Edward Earl “Eddie” Prince, pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Hernando, MS He was arrested for possession of child pornography. Listed as a sex offender in Mississippi for a 2013 conviction of child exploitation Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2012 – Larry Singleton, pastor, Bay Springs Baptist Church, Abbeville, MS He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexual battery of a boy. Bay Springs Baptist Church is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Singleton volunteered at an extension campus of Gateway Christian Schools, sponsored by the independent Gateway Baptist Church, Memphis, TN. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Mississippi Pastor Sentenced To 30 Years For Sex Assault 2009 – 2007 Marshal A.Seymour, 40, volunteer youth minister, FBC at the Mall, Lakeland, FL, and former youth minister, Parkway Assembly of God, Mobile, AL He faced charges in 2007 of unlawful sexual activity and 3 counts of using a child in sexual performance. He pleaded guilty to 3rd-degree assault in lew of the 2nd-degree sexual abuse charge: 1 17 yr. old boy, 1 16-year-old boy, 1 15-year-old, 1998 – 1 16-year-old boy. The church’s background check did not show a previous 1999 Mobile assault conviction which was a misdemeanor. In 1999, Seymour moved to Lakeland and began volunteering at FBC at the Mall. He is a registered sex offender in Florida. As part of a plea agreement, convicted of three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and one charge of directing the sexual performance of a child. Sentenced to a maximum of 10 years on each count. He was released in 2016. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Offender record Police record 2017 – Christopher Donald Bean, pastor, Evergreen Baptist Church, Shubuta, MS Convicted of unlawful touching of a child and exploitation of a child. Sentenced to five years in 2017. Incarcerated in Mississippi. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2017 – Lloyd C. Schallenberger, volunteered with the youth program and helped with Sunday school at First Baptist Church, Richland, MS. He was arrested on charges of sexual battery on a minor in Florida. Sentenced to four years probation in July 2017 for willful abuse of a child (following guilty plea), according to Florida prison and court records. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Richland man faces molestation charge in Florida 2016 In 2016, Carlos Smith, pastor/preacher, Unity Baptist Church, Wiggins, MS He was convicted of “sexual battery of a girl at the church he previously led.” The abuse began in 2011 when the girl was 11. Not listed as SBC Ex-preacher molested girl for 3 years at church 2018 – Michael Shane Casabella, youth pastor of North Corinth Baptist Church and principal of North Corinth Christian Academy He was arrested and convicted in July of fondling, sexual battery, and exploitation of a child in Mississippi and is serving an 8-year prison sentence. He was arrested in the Houston area by U.S. marshals in 2018, according to news reports. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database US Marshals capture Alcorn County fugitive 2013 – 2015 Cory Alexander Cotten, Youth minister at Eastview, Glade, and North Columbia Baptist churches In 2013, Cotten pleaded guilty to exploitation of children. In 2015, he was ordered to serve five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision under the Mississippi Department of Corrections for posing as a woman on Facebook and getting young boys to send nude photos to him. Registered sex offender in Mississippi for 2015 conviction of exploitation of children. He pleaded guilty to knowingly receiving and possessing a photo of two minors engaging in sexual conduct and was sentenced to five years in prison, court records show. He appealed, saying prosecutors failed to identify the children by name in an indictment, but an appellate court decision upheld his conviction, records show. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2011 – Sammy Allen Nuckolls, Southern Baptist evangelist and former camp pastor at LifeWay Christian Resources’ FUGE summer youth events He is serving a 10-year sentence in Mississippi state prison on three counts of video voyeurism, prison records show. Nuckolls originally faced 13 charges of video voyeurism in 2012, but the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned 10 of 13 counts in a ruling in 2015. Required to register as a sex offender. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database State Supreme Court reverses convictions of peeping preacher Evangelist charged with video voyeurism TENNESSEE: 2006 – Paul Williams, assistant pastor, minister of prayer and special projects, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, TN In 2006, Williams admitted he was guilty of sexually abusing his son in 1990. Bellevue leaders told the church Williams had committed a “moral Failure” that required his leave of absence and an investigation into the allegations. Pastor Steve Gaines told the congregation Williams had confessed the misconduct to him six months earlier. He received criticism for not reporting the abuse earlier. Williams was later fired. Bellevue report: Assistant pastor guilty of sex abuse against son Bellevue Report Faults Handling of Minister’s Sexual Abuse 2016 – Jason Evan Kennedy, youth minister, Grace Baptist Church, Karns, TN He was arrested for patronizing prostitution and human trafficking. Registered sex offender for soliciting a minor for sex. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2018 – Andy Savage, teaching pastor, Highpoint Church, Memphis, TN, a nondenominational congregation He resigned after admitting to the congregation that in 1998 as youth minister at Woodlands Parkway Baptist Church near Houston, now known as Stonebridge Church, he had a sexual incident with a high school student. Since the statute of limitations had expired, no charges would be filed. Tennessee pastor Andy Savage resigns weeks after admitting ‘sexual incident’ with minor 2015 – Demarcus Smith, pastor, Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Memphis, TN He was sentenced to 85 months in prison on child pornography possession charges. 2017 – Heath Tyler Ransom, youth minister intern, Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, TN He was accused of contacting four minors and attempting to persuade them to engage in sexual activity. Registered as a sex offender in Tennessee for a 2017 conviction of criminal attempt to commit solicitation of a minor. Listed as a felony offender on probation through 2025. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Indictments: Church intern solicited minors 2014 – Larry Michael Berkley, pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Harrison, AR, and former pastor, Victory Baptist Church, Henning, TN He was arrested for abuse of over a dozen boys as young as 14 and 18. Police said he plied them with alcohol and marijuana and showed them porn to gain compliance. Convicted of 16 crimes, including four counts of aggravated statutory rape and four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. He was sentenced to 33 years. Incarcerated in Tennessee and registered as a sex offender. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Shiloh Baptist Church, Harrison, AR – Listed on sbc.net TN AR SBC 15 Victory Baptist Church, Henning, TN – Listed on SBC Workspace Former pastor pleads guilty to sexual assault of juveniles 2015 – Christopher Ryan Crossno, Sunday school teacher and volunteer at Spring Creek Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN He pleaded guilty to sexual battery for inappropriate contact with a 6-year-old girl in 2012. His plea resulted in a three-year suspended sentence. He is to register as a sex offender and undergo a psychosexual evaluation. Registered sex offender in Tennessee with a 2015 conviction of sexual battery. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2006 – 2003 Gregory Stanley Dempsey, former minister of music, Oak Street Baptist Church, Soddy-Daisy, TN He was charged with 3 counts of statutory rape and 3 counts of sexual battery for abusing a 16-year-old boy in 2003 and confessed to the allegations. In 2006, he was pastor of Middle Valley Methodist Church. He was convicted of a Sept. 1, 2003, sexual battery by an authority figure, according to his Tennessee Sex Offender Registry. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Former Pastor Must Serve 11/29 For Statutory Rape 2012 – Charles Alan “Chuck” Denton, retired police sergeant and associate pastor, Bethal Baptist Church, Palmyra, TN In 2012, he was charged with 2 counts of rape on allegations he inappropriately had sexual contact with a 36-yr-old mentally challenged woman. In 2014, he entered a guilty plea to an amended count of sexual battery, a Class E felony, and agreed to three years of probation at 35 percent. Denton must register as a Tennessee Sex Offender for 10 years. The Leaf Chronicle stated on July 28, 2014, that Senior Pastor Ted Denny, Bethel Baptist Church, said that Denton remains a pastor there because he accepted the plea because he felt it was in the best interest for him and his family. As of 2/26/22, Denton is not listed as a staff member on their website. His position at the church was associate pastor and guitarist at Bethel Baptist Church, Palmyra, TN He was convicted in Montgomery County in 2014 Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2018 – Courtney Michelle Bingham, youth leader, Bethany Baptist Church, Loudon, TN On December 11, 2018, Bingham admitted and was charged with “aggravated statutory rape and soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor.” Church youth leader charged for sexual relations with teen boy 2006 – 2008 Timothy Neal Byars, 44, minister of youth, education, and music, Springhill Baptist Church, Dyersburg, TN In 2006, Byars was arrested on charges of rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, and aggravated statutory rape (14 and 19-year-old sisters). Registered sex offender in Tennessee for rape and for an attempt to commit sexual battery – crimes that were reported in two different cities on two consecutive nights in November 2006. He served two years in prison. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database GUILTY: Byars sentenced to two years in prison 2015 – Luke A. Cooke, youth pastor, Baptist church unknown In 2007, Cooke was indicted on rape and aggravated sexual battery charges involving an 8-year-old and 16-year-old girls. The youth minister fled to China, Morocco, and Albania after being indicted on sex crimes charges in Shelby County, Tenn., in 2007. In 2015, he was returned to the US and convicted in Tennessee of “coercion or enticement of a minor” for having transported a juvenile with the intent of engaging in illegal sexual activity and sentenced to 138 months. He is serving out his sentence in federal prison. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2009 – Timothy Ronald Felts, youth pastor, North Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, TN He was convicted of sexual battery in 2009 and listed as a sex offender. Convicted again in 2016 of three counts of aggravated statutory rape as well as attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor for offenses that occurred in 2015 and 2016. Serving a 14-year prison sentence in Tennessee and is on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2011 – Jonathan Tyler Giles, 24, youth minister, Spring Creek Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN Giles served as a youth pastor before his arrest in June 2009 on three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of solicitation of minor and sexual battery by an authority figure involving three teenage girls who attended Spring Creek Baptist Church. He pleaded guilty in January 2011 in a plea bargain reached to keep victims from having to testify in court. He was sentenced to two years in prison and placed on a post-trial diversion allowing him to avoid jail time if he completed 240 hours of public service, lived with his parents out of town, and stayed in school. Sunday school worker charged with abuse 2019 – Benjamin N. Widrick, 24, of Syracuse, NY, Youth Minister Intern, Long Hollow Baptist Church Served as a 2018 summer intern at Long Hollow Baptist Church’s Gallatin campus where he engaged in sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl. He was arrested on 3 acts of statutory rape. In 2018, he was a 23-year-old Liberty University student majoring in pastoral leadership. The victim stated they had sexual intercourse once while at camp and twice when Widrick came back to Tennessee to visit her. He pleaded guilty. The plea agreement called for an effective five-year, Range I, probation sentence. As part of the plea agreement, the offenses were reduced to statutory rape, a Class E felony. The plea agreement reserved for the trial court the determination of whether the Widrick would be placed on the sex offender registry. 2016 – David Lee St. John, pastor, The Bible Truth Baptist Church, Bristol, TN In 2016, he pleaded guilty to six felony counts of aggravated sexual battery and three felony counts of rape of a child for activities with two girls under age 13 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison without chance of parole. The church dissolved after the pastor was arrested. Former Bristol, Tenn., official, pastor gets 30 years for sex crimes. Former Tennessee, official, pastor gets 30 years for sex crimes 2016 – Christopher Douglas Ross, youth pastor, Fairview Church, Lebanon, TN Ross pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure. He was convicted in 2016 and is serving a four-year sentence in Tennessee state prison Listed on Houston Chronicle Database 2017 – Tandy Eugene Roberts, former pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Santa Fe, TN In 2017, Roberts was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual battery by an authority figure regarding acts against a 12-year-old female in 2012. Robert is listed on the TBI Sex Offender Registry. Former Maury County pastor charged in 2012 sexual battery case 2007 – Richard Yates Quinn, 33, attended and graduated from Southern Seminary. He was a Registered Sex Offender in TN who lived on campus. His registry information says he was convicted of with a 14-yr-old girl. Convicted in TN of receiving photo of a minor engaged in a sexually explicit act. 2015 – Benjamin Ross Hollifield, outreach pastor, Piedmont Baptist Church, Kannapolis, NC He was arrested for sex offenses with a 13-year-old member of his church. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Kannapolis youth pastor charged with sex offenses against 13-year-old. 2017 – Matthew Dennis Patterson, pastor, Nolensville Road Baptist Church, Nashville, TN Patterson was indicted on eight counts of aggravated sexual battery. Each count is linked to a different child. Nashville pastor molested at least 8 children during 20 years as a church leader, police say 2018 – Jimmy Orick, pastor, Mountain View Independent Baptist Church, La Follette, TN He pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated statutory rape, three counts, of attempted statutory rape by an authority figure, and two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. 1992 – Donald McCary, 48, minister of music and youth, Central Baptist Church, Hixon, TN He was sentenced to 72 years in prison for abusing 4 boys between the ages of 12 and 15 in 1989. In 1996, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction on the grounds that testimony from a man who claimed to have been molested by McCary as a child was permitted although the pastor was never charged with the crimes involving the witness. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the conviction of Donald McCrary in one trial and reversed another conviction. He was given two other trials involving two different victims, and he was convicted in both cases. The appeals court upheld one jury’s findings, but in the second case said the state had not properly elected offenses to proceed on and that a prosecutor made improper statements to the jury Appeals Court Reverses Donald McCary Conviction, Upholds Another Case 2007 – Mark Woodson Mangrum, 47, former preacher, FBC, Parsons, TN He settled on a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to distributing porn to minors by computer, charged with sending email and instant messages while trying to entice him into committing oral sex, a 14-year-old boy in 2007 He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2018 to 70 months in federal prison and 20 years supervised release for distributing child porn in order to “induce a minor to engage in sexual conduct.” Registered sex offender in Tennessee. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Gay-Sex Sting Operation Nabs Baptist Pastor 2010 – Chad Eugene Luttrell, volunteer at Vacation Bible School, First Baptist Church, Bemis, TN Registered sex offender after pleading guilty to a June 10, 2009, offense of sexual battery. Listed on Houston Chronicle Database Church sued for abuse that occurred at VBS Group wants former pastor at Bemis Baptist investigated 1998 – John Randy Leming, pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Sevierville, TN He pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape for oral sex with a 16-year-old congregant when he pastored Shiloh Baptist Church in Sevier County. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to the offenses that occurred in May and June 1994, when he was 31, and lost his appeal of the concurrent 18-month sentences he deemed harsh. Leming has served at Antioch Baptist Church since March 2014, according to the SBC Annual Church Profile. During its February 22-23, 2021, meeting, the SBC Executive Committee disfellowshipped Antioch Baptist Church for employing a pastor who confessed to two counts of statutory rape. 2009 – Matthew Maurice Jernigan, church youth volunteer, Heartland Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN, In 2010, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 15 probation for sex abuse of boys. The abuse happened in 2009. 2009 – Randall T. Hollifield, youth volunteer, New Beverly Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN He was sentenced to the following: rape of a child (06/15/2011), especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (06/15/2009), criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery (03/10/2007) Hollifield is a Registered Sex Offender in Tennessee Continue reading... https://wreg.com/news/local/mid-south-church-leaders-on-southern-baptist-accused-abuser-list/ Find in Internet Archives [google]Mid-South church leaders on Southern Baptist accused abuser list[/google]
Here is a list of local Southern Baptist Church leaders accused of sex abuse In response to an explosive investigation, top Southern Baptists have released a previously secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. The 205-page database was made public late Thursday. It includes more than 700 entries from cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019. Its existence became widely known Sunday when the independent firm, Guidepost Solutions, included it in its bombshell report detailing how the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee mishandled allegations of sex abuse, stonewalled numerous survivors and prioritized protecting the SBC from liability. The Executive Committee redacted many of the names because ... Brandon James Carter: In court, Carter’s accuser said he sexually assaulted her at his home when she was 13 years old. She said she kept the secret for nearly a decade. Carter’s attorney said the former youth minister and school teacher admitted his crime during a session with a counselor and readily accepted his punishment. Carter, a former East Lincoln high school and middle school music teacher, became the youth and music minister at Zion Baptist Church in Cherryville. He was convicted in Lincoln County in 2013 and sentenced to 22 to 36 months active. According to records from the North Carolina Department ... Benjamin Hollifield: Hollifield was an associate in charge of youth at Piedmont Baptist Church when he was arrested in May 2015 and charged with 10 counts of statutory rape and four counts of taking indent liberties with children. He pled guilty on all charges in 2016 and was sentenced under one consolidated charge of indecent liberties to 15 to 23 years in prison Jude Dayton Hughes: Hughes was a full-time custodian at Avery County High School and the pastor at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church. Investigators said he sent two naked photos of himself to who he thought was a teenage girl and student at the high school. What Hughes didn’t know was deputies had taken over the student’s Facebook account -- the photos were never seen by the teenager, but ended up in the hands of deputies. Hughes pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a student and was sentenced to 4 to 14 months in prison and 12 months of supervised probation. He had a probation ... Harley Michael Keough: In court, Keough was accused by several women of groping them when they came to the church for help. Keough was a pastor at King James Baptist Church in Bessemer City before he was found guilty of two counts of sexual battery. He did not go to prison and was instead given 18 months probation and had to register as a sex offender and provide a DNA sample as often requested. After his conviction in 2010, Keough said he plans on continuing work at the Bessemer City church despite the fact that he must register as a sex offender. Keough ... Marty Eugene Meadows: Meadows pled guilty to several indecent liberties charges dating back to 2002, according to the Gaston County clerk of courts. Dennis Fred Rutledge: A music director for more than 40 years at Camp Creek Baptist Church outside Lancaster, Rutledge pled guilty in 2015 to molesting a 10-year-old girl at his home. Prosecutors said it happened at least half a dozen times in 2013, but Rutledge pled guilty to one count and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was also accused of sexual abusing another young girl. He plead guilty to another sex charge, criminal sexual conduct with a minor third-degree, involving that 8-year-old child. Paul Shives: A former deacon at New Hope Baptist Church in Gastonia, Shives was accused of taking indecent liberties with two girls at his home in 2006. Prosecutors said Shives initiated a game of truth or dare with the girls that involved them taking off their clothes. Shives pled not guilty and went to trial where he was sentenced to prison. Clyde Wesley Way: Way was a volunteer with the Stanly Baptist Association when he accused of committing sex crimes against four boys while at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly in 2013. Way, who was also a substitute teacher in Stanly County, assaulted the boys who were between the ages of 10 and 13. According to court documents, he forced the boys to play strip poker while Way was the chaperone on the youth group’s trip to church camp. Way was charged with 16 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of indecent liberties with a child and four counts of ... Lawrence Webber: An associate pastor at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church, Webber was accused of three counts of first degree rape and five counts of indecent liberties with a child. Webber was already a registered sex offender in the state of North Carolina before the allegations in 2008. Continue reading... https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/h...accused-sex-abuse/IZL44TJNS5FOZJGF56OLSFOOJA/ Find in Internet Archives [google]Here is a list of local Southern Baptist Church leaders accused of sex abuse[/google]
