January 31, 2005

Former Baptist pastor indicted on sex abuse counts

FORT WORTH (TX)
Star-Telegram

By Melody McDonald
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - An indictment has been returned against a 55-year-old former pastor alleging that he sexually abused six males over a 14-year period, many inside his Westside Victory Baptist Church.

On Friday, a Tarrant County grand jury returned seven separate indictments against the Rev. Larry Nuell Neathery, accusing him of sexual misconduct from 1990 to 2004.

Those alleged to be his victims include:

* A 13-year-old church member who says Neathery sexually assaulted him several times in late 2003 and early 2004.

* An adult who says Neathery fondled him as a youth in 1990 and, later, tried to sexually assault him as an adult in 2003.

* A juvenile who alleges that Neathery befriended him and then exposed himself in early 2002.

* Three brothers -- then ages 7, 11, and 12 -- who accuse Neathery of varying degrees of sexual misconduct.

Neathery, who resigned as pastor of the Westside Victory Baptist Church in December, remains in Tarrant County Jail awaiting trial.

Posted by kshaw at January 31, 2005 05:44 PM