WALHALLA (SC)
The State
Associated Press
WALHALLA, S.C. - A traveling evangelist was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to charges of committing lewd acts on children.
James Wesley McCoy, 32, will have to serve at least 18 years of the sentence, the Anderson Independent-Mail reported.
McCoy was charged with four counts of committing a lewd act on a child and five charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Aiken, Laurens, Pickens and Oconee counties. He has been held in the Oconee County Detention Center since his arrest May 12.
"I have wept bitter tears for 10 months, tears of true grief and sorrow and I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please forgive and don't live in a prison of hatred. It will be worse for you than for me," said McCoy, whose wife and parents were in the courtroom.
Posted by kshaw at January 18, 2005 12:51 PM