Monday, October 08, 2007

Another bad day for the local glass-and-steel megachurch.

I feel sorry for the members of this church:

A Jacksonville man is behind bars and waiting extradition on 16 counts of indecent liberties with a child.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Anthony Philip Denton was picked up on a fugitive warrant out of North Carolina.

He is charged with sexual assault, 16 counts of felony indecent liberties with a child.

The charges relate to alleged child molestation in North Carolina decades ago.

A victim's advocate close to the case tells First Coast News that the 46-year-old Denton served as a youth pastor and a music director in Fayetteville.

Denton could be taken back to North Carolina for trial.

Several church members at Trinity Baptist here in Jacksonville told First Coast News that Denton was on the counseling staff at the church.

Ed Trent, the attorney for Trinity Baptist said he had no comment but he understood that Denton was not employed by trinity any longer but, "at one point had some association with the church besides membership."

Denton is behind bars without bond and has a court date set for November 2nd.

November is also the time former Pastor Bob Gray from Trinity is scheduled for trial.

Gray is charged with sexually molesting several girls and a boy.

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