ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Tim Townsend
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/08/2006
The African Methodist Episcopal church has found that the Rev. Sylvester Laudermill Jr., a former pastor in St. Louis, committed "child sexual abuse" here and in Los Angeles.
The church on Monday stripped Laudermill of his duties. A church attorney said Laudermill was "in effect, defrocked."
Laudermill was pastor at St. Peter AME Church, at Margaretta and Shreve avenues in St. Louis, from 1994 to 2004 before leaving for Los Angeles.
Among the accusations he faces: a seven-year sexual relationship with a male in St. Louis that started when the boy was 14.
Criminal charges have not been filed against Laudermill. He is being investigated by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, which is also working with the Los Angeles Police Department. A civil suit has not been filed in the St. Louis case.