Posted 11:10 pm Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Former Elkhart Pastor Indicted For Indecency With Child
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
PALESTINE -- A preacher charged with several counts of sexual crimes against children has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury.
Staff Writer
PALESTINE -- A preacher charged with several counts of sexual crimes against children has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury.
Hezekiah Stallworth, 75, was arrested in March on the felony charge of indecency with a child stemming from an incident following a church service.
Anderson County sheriff's officials said at the time the victim was 7 years old when the then pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Elkhart, allegedly touched her inappropriately.
Last week, Stallworth was indicted on the indecency charge and another charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Officials said in addition to the 7-year-old victim, a 9 year old and two women who attended the church in the 1980s have also come forward with allegations of sexual wrongdoing by the pastor.
Investigators worked diligently after the March arrest to determine if there were additional victims because of Stallworth's long service at the church and years of visiting other churches in the area.
Stallworth remains jailed in Anderson County on a $50,000 bond.
