Virginia Pastor Arrested On Multiple Child Sex Charges

The Bristol Herald Courier reports:

Detectives arrested Michael Canter, 38, of Abingdon, Virginia, without incident Thursday, Sept. 8 on multiple sexual assault charges against a juvenile female, according to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

At the time of his arrest, Canter, a resident of Washington County, Virginia, was serving as the pastor at Valley View Baptist Church in Abingdon.

Canter was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and attempted object sexual penetration, police said. Canter is currently being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond.

Read the full article.

A local pastor is behind bars after the Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office investigated a report of an alleged sexual assault. https://t.co/LSgnKeR57b

— Herald Courier (@heraldcourier) September 14, 2022

One Abingdon pastor faces multiple child sex crimes. Detectives said 38-year-old Michael Canter allegedly sexually assaulted an underage member of his congregation at a church event. They say there could be more victims:https://t.co/tfjCCoHL1D pic.twitter.com/yAFI1ophiS

— Amy Cockerham WJHL (@AmyWJHL) September 14, 2022

Washington County, Virginia authorities charged the pastor of Valley View Baptist Church in Abingdon with several child-sex-related crimes on Sept. 8.

Read more: https://t.co/rmeSBTtx4Z

— WJHL (@WJHL11) September 14, 2022