Defendant arrested on 20-year-old sex crimes charges

A North Carolina man has been arrested in connection with alleged sex crimes that were perpetrated against a 12-year-old child in the 1990s. The defendant, age 62, is facing formal sex crimes allegations, including charges of first degree rape of a child, second degree rape and statutory rape, among others. Officials say that the alleged incidents occurred between 1994 and 1998.

The defendant is currently being held on a bond of $1 million in the Gaston County Detention Facility. He is expected to be transferred to the Brunswick County facility in short order. It appears that the defendant was arrested in late May, according to area news reports.

Authorities say that the defendant has been active in a ministry effort that is based out of Dallas, North Carolina. There, he serves as a men’s ministry leader for the Restoring Hope Foursquare Church. The church has not issued any kind of formal statement about the man’s arrest. Their website says that the defendant and his wife work together as pastors at that church, and the man leads a group called the Men of Valor. He is also a leader in the Hospital and Home Visitation efforts, according to that Internet page.

The defendant in this case has been arrested for his alleged involvement in sex crimes that date back 20 years. Such cases require specific legal strategies, considering that many lack access to the physical evidence that could actually link the defendant to the crime. In such cold cases, the criminal proceeding may quickly turn into a “he said, she said” situation. Criminal defendants are urged to remember that they have a variety of courtroom rights that should be protected, especially in cases that date back two decades.

Source: WBTW News 13, “NC ministry leader charged with raping child in Brunswick County” No author given, May. 29, 2014