March 03, 2006

Ex-pastor wants to testify in his defense

FORT WORTH (TX)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

By MARTHA DELLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

FORT WORTH -- Former Baptist pastor Larry Nuell Neathery plans to take the witness stand today to challenge the graphic testimony of five boys who have accused him of sexually assaulting them in his home and church.
Prosecutors rested their case Thursday after calling 10 witnesses to support multicount indictments accusing the 56-year-old Fort Worth man of molesting five boys from 5 to 14 years old between 1998 and 2004.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison on felony charges that include aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child and sexual performance of a child. He is also eligible for probation.
With the prosecutors' agreement, Judge Mike Thomas acquitted Neathery of one count each involving two boys but denied a defense motion to dismiss the remainder of the charges.

Posted by kshaw at March 3, 2006 06:30 AM