Posted 12:07 am Friday, October 12, 2007
Pastor Arrested On Child Sexual Assault Charges
By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer
KILGORE - A Gladewater church pastor was arrested on Tuesday for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child.
Kilgore police arrested Larry Jackson, 54, of Kilgore, on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, according to Gregg County judicial records.
The investigation began in June after a victim's mother contacted Kilgore police and filed a complaint against Jackson.
Jackson allegedly sexually assaulted two female children younger than 10 years old from one family, and engaged in indecency with a child younger than 10 years old from a second family.
Police said the alleged sexual assaults took place while Jackson was a pastor at the Church of Christ on West Clair Street in Gladewater.
Detective Tony Stone with the Kilgore Police Department said he has been investigating Jackson and the reports of sexual assault since June.
"There was a lot of evidence gathered. We obtained complaints and the work resulted in an arrest warrant," Stone said. "As far as I know, he was still a preacher while we were doing the investigation." Stone added that, as far as he knew, the victims were not involved with the church.
Jackson was released from the Gregg County Jail on $135,000 bond Thursday morning.
Since working in the criminal investigation division, Stone said this is his 15th case of sexual assault of a child he has worked.
"Even one case is too many in my opinion," Stone said.
Stone said the evidence collected during the investigation will be turned over to the Gregg County District Attorney's office, which will decide if the case will be sent to a grand jury for indictments.
Staff Writer
KILGORE - A Gladewater church pastor was arrested on Tuesday for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child.
Kilgore police arrested Larry Jackson, 54, of Kilgore, on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, according to Gregg County judicial records.
The investigation began in June after a victim's mother contacted Kilgore police and filed a complaint against Jackson.
Jackson allegedly sexually assaulted two female children younger than 10 years old from one family, and engaged in indecency with a child younger than 10 years old from a second family.
Police said the alleged sexual assaults took place while Jackson was a pastor at the Church of Christ on West Clair Street in Gladewater.
Detective Tony Stone with the Kilgore Police Department said he has been investigating Jackson and the reports of sexual assault since June.
"There was a lot of evidence gathered. We obtained complaints and the work resulted in an arrest warrant," Stone said. "As far as I know, he was still a preacher while we were doing the investigation." Stone added that, as far as he knew, the victims were not involved with the church.
Jackson was released from the Gregg County Jail on $135,000 bond Thursday morning.
Since working in the criminal investigation division, Stone said this is his 15th case of sexual assault of a child he has worked.
"Even one case is too many in my opinion," Stone said.
Stone said the evidence collected during the investigation will be turned over to the Gregg County District Attorney's office, which will decide if the case will be sent to a grand jury for indictments.
