February 26, 2005

Ex-pastor accused in new abuse cases

WETUMPKA (AL)
Montgomery Advertiser

By Marty Roney
Montgomery Advertiser

A former Wetumpka minister charged in January with the sexual abuse of two girls now is being accused by police of abusing two more children.

Garett Albert Dykes, the former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, was charged Jan. 10 with three counts of sexual abuse involving two girls younger than 10. Dykes, 38, of 909 Oak Crest Court in Wetumpka, is in the Elmore County Jail under $1.5 million in bonds.

The parents of the additional victims came forward to police, said Elmore County Chief Deputy Ricky Lowery. The abuse is believed to have taken place at Dykes' home and not at the church or on church property.

"The victims tell stories that are very similar to the statements of the first victims," Lowery said.

Dykes has not yet been formally charged with abusing the additional victims. The information about the two new victims will be presented to the Elmore County grand jury, said Lowery. The next session of the panel is set for April.


Posted by kshaw at February 26, 2005 07:51 AM