Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Wilmington Star-News reports:
A pastor of a Brunswick County church faces multiple counts in a child sexual offense case.
On July 8, Jonathan Ballard, pastor of Straightway Ministries Wilmington and Church of the Living God in Leland and Whiteville, was indicted with 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with children, six counts of statutory sex offense, and one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a first appearance in New Hanover County Court Friday morning.
Four victims, including one who has since deceased, have come forward, Jason Smith, assistant district attorney representing the state in the case at Friday’s first appearance, said. The alleged abuse occurred between 1995 and 2019 across multiple counties.
Read the full article.
Ballard was arrested on similar charges in 2004.
A pastor accused of multiple child sex crimes made his first court appearance in New Hanover County Friday morning. https://t.co/M1LguvEVdt
— WWAY News (@WWAY) July 19, 2024