By Sonja Elmquist and Joe Killian
News-Record
March 31, 2007
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/NEWSREC0101/703310306/-1/GTCOM0200
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| Todd Turner Brock |
Kernersville — Todd Turner Brock, a High Point pastor arrested Thursday on four felony charges related to sexually exploiting a minor, resigned from his position at Tabernacle Baptist Church before he was arrested, according to a church deacon.
A search warrant released Friday revealed disturbing details about Brock's alleged relationship with a 17-year-old boy who came to him for spiritual guidance after a friend's death of cancer.
When the boy's mother learned that Brock had allegedly begun a sexual relationship with her son she went to the police.
Brock, 42, of 507 Old Mill Road in High Point was charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, dissemination of obscenity, promoting prostitution of a minor and solicitation of another to commit a felony.
In arrest warrants, police said Brock engaged in sexual activity, sexual bondage, anal sex and oral sex with a 17-year-old boy for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the activity.
Warrants also say Brock sent text messages via cell phone to the 17-year-old showing pictures of male genitals.
Police seized home computers, videotapes, handguns and a shotgun from Brock's house on Thursday. They also seized a black plastic bag that contained a leather whip, makeup and necklaces.
Working with a 17-year-old male informant, Kernersville police said they and the FBI recorded telephone conversations between the informant and Brock and seized e-mail in which Brock discussed making a pornographic film with the young man.
In a televised press conference, Donnie Snow, a deacon at the church said Brock was "very solemn and very heartbroken at this series of events."
Brock has been pastor for 17 years at Tabernacle Baptist Church, according to police. He has no prior criminal record.
Neighbors described Brock's north High Point neighborhood as quiet and private, mainly inhabited by families and retired people. People living near Brock's house knew it to be a parsonage for the Tabernacle Baptist Church, just around the corner on Johnson Street, but said they did not associate with the pastor.
William Betenbaugh, an Old Mill Road resident, said he has lived on that street for 47 years.
"There's nothing going on around here usually," he said.
Betenbaugh, 80, said he didn't know Brock and didn't know of his arrest until he saw it on the news.
The case began March 23 after a 17-year-old boy confided in his parents and a school counselor, said Detective Sammy Peddycord of the Kernersville Police Department.
The alleged victim and Brock knew each other, Peddycord said.
He declined to release specifics about the case, citing the continuing investigation in Kernersville and at least one other location.
"There is one case that is open in another jurisdiction involving Mr. Brock," Peddycord said.
Brock was being held in the Forsyth County Detention Center on $1 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in Forsyth County court on April 2.
The investigation involved Kernersville police and the State Bureau of Investigation.
Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or selmquist@news-record.com
Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or jkillian@news-record.com
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