3 Pastors Accused of Sex Trafficking Underage Girls Face New Charges,
Could Face Life in Prison
By Leonardo Blair , Christian Post Reporter |
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Three Ohio pastors already facing charges of sex trafficking underage
girls were slapped with a new indictment Tuesday that alleges they conspired to
exploit their victims. They all pleaded not guilty to the crimes that could
keep them behind bars for the rest of their lives.
Last month, Pastor Kenneth Butler, 37, of Kingdom Encounter
Family Worship Center in Toledo, Ohio, was arrested and slapped with federal
sex trafficking charges, joining the Rev. Cordell Jenkins, 46, and
the Rev. Anthony Haynes, 38, behind bars.
Jenkins founded and was pastor of Abundant Life
Ministries while Haynes led the Greater Life Christian Center, the Toledo Blade reported.
Earlier this year on April 7, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested
Jenkins and Haynes for sex trafficking of children. Authorities said they
knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided or obtained a
person under the age of 18.
Concerning the new charges contained in the indictment
handed down Tuesday, Allison Folmar, attorney for Jenkins said: "These are
very serious allegations. He's accepting it as such. No it's not easy to deal
with, but he's a very strong individual."
Family members and friends who reportedly packed the
courtroom in support of the men became emotional when they learned that the
pastors could spend the rest of their lives in prison if they are found guilty.
"They are not all charged with the same charges,
but they are all listed in one indictment," another Jenkins lawyer, Lorin
Zaner, said.
The new indictment, according to Zaner, "says the
three of them combined to involve these girls in sex trafficking. I believe
they are never going to be able to demonstrate that."
The lawyers say they are currently waiting for the U.S.
district attorney in the case to turn over evidence.
"We've been waiving time because there's a lot of
discovery we have to have. We have to make sure we analyze it. Make sure we
understand it. The client is not in town so we have to go visit with him and
share the discovery with him," Zaner said.
Haynes is alleged to have been sexually exploiting
juveniles for the last three years dating back to when one of the juveniles
involved was 14 years old.
Butler's accuser states in a redacted affidavit that
she met him when she was 15 years old at Haynes' church. Shortly after meeting
the minor, according to the document, Butler told her he wanted to have sex
with her.
"Specifically, while in the parking lot of Hayne's
church, Butler told her he wanted to have sex with her in the front seat of his
car and that he would make her [redacted]." The sexual conversation was
interrupted, however, by a church member who approached the car.
When the minor turned 16, however, "she had sex
with Butler in his vehicle in the City of Toledo. Approximately one month
later, she felt pregnant and took several Plan B pills she believed terminated
the pregnancy."
The pastors are expected back in court on Jan. 8.
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