News 10 [Sacramento CA]
March 13, 2007
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=25439&provider=top
Frederick Dew, the Sacramento pastor accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in a public library bathroom was arraigned Tuesday afternoon. Dew is the pastor of Praise Tabernacle, a small church in south Sacramento.
Dew is charged with aggravated sexual assault, oral copulation with a minor, lewd acts with a child, lewd acts with a child under 14 and attempted forcible lewd acts.
Sacramento police arrested Dew last Friday. Authorities believe he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old after following the boy into a restroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library on 24th Street in Sacramento on Thursday. The child managed to escape and pointed Dew out to a security guard.
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| Frederick Dew |
During Dew's arraignment, two inmates who were in the barred holding area with him began a profanity-laced tirade as the judge began reading the charges against the pastor. One inmate yelled out, "Are you serious, man? That's what he's here for. He's a coward." The other inmate said, "I'm not standing in here with him. He's raping children." The judge ordered both of them to step out as court continued.
Some members of Dew's congregation were in the courtroom during the proceedings. Linda Coleman, Praise Tabernacle's administrator, said she believes Dew will be found innocent. "If you knew him as a person you would never believe the accusations that were made against him. He's a man of God. He lives what he preaches," she said. Coleman added she's known Dew for most of his life and believes he was born to become a preacher who leads people to Christ.
Chris Baker, pastor of Coastal Ministries said he's worried about Dew and his alleged victim, "It's an unfortunate matter that this happened and we can't be judgmental of either party. Both parties need to be prayed for and just think the best for both of them," Baker said.
A group of more than a dozen people gathered on the sidewalk outside of the jail to pray for Dew and his deliverance.
Dew's bail has been set at $500,000, but prosecutors said they would try to have it raised to $1.2 million at a hearing on March 19.
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