BishopAccountability.org
	Ministers Accused in Tennessee Tennessean April 29, 2007 http://www.dicksonherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070429/NEWS06/704290424 Here's a look at Southern Baptist ministers in Tennessee recently accused or convicted of sex crimes: Pastor: Mark Mangrum, 47 Church: First Baptist Church in Parsons near Jackson The charge: one count of using a computer to try and persuade a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The allegations: On Feb. 13, a federal grand jury indicted Mangrum. With the investigation under way, Mangrum resigned as pastor of the 200-member First Baptist Church in early January. He had been the church's pastor about six years, a church leader told the Jackson Sun. It's unclear whether the allegations involved a youth at the church. Mangrum's attorney has said his client maintains he has not done anything wrong. Youth minister: Timothy Byars, 44 Church: Springhill Baptist Church in Dyersburg The charges: rape, sexual battery by an authority figure and aggravated statutory rape in Knox County. Byars is separately charged with sexual battery in Davidson County involving a different person. The allegations: Byars, a Dyersburg High School track coach at the time of the alleged incidents, was charged with molesting a 14-year-old girl while she slept in the back of his parked SUV in Knox County during a cross-country meet. The trip included the girl's older sister and Byars' two daughters. Police said the girl awoke during the alleged molestation but kept quiet until she was able to text message her parents. Police also said that Byars admitted to the alleged rape. The girl's older sister, an adult, also filed a police report accusing Byars of touching her inappropriately as she drove the team van through Nashville on I-40. Byars resigned as minister of youth, education and music at the church after his November arrest. Music minister: Gregory Dempsey, 42. Church: Oak Street Baptist Church in Soddy-Daisy near Chattanooga Conviction: raping a teenage boy. The crime: Dempsey began a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy at the church and continued it for more than two years, engaging in sex at least once per week. Dempsey began a six-month jail sentence on March 5 after pleading guilty to two counts each of sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape. His sentence includes serving 12 years of probation, completing a five-year treatment program and registering as a sex offender. Dempsey was also ordered to stay away from children. Assistant pastor: Paul Williams Church: Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova. The allegation: sexually molesting an adolescent boy 17 years ago. Williams, who had served the 30,000-member church for 34 years, was fired Jan. 22 after an internal church report released to the congregation said he admitted that he "engaged in egregious, perverse, sexual activity with (the boy) over a period of 12 to 18 months." A Department of Children's Services investigation found no children at the church were currently at risk. A Shelby County district attorney spokeswoman said no one has filed a criminal complaint and, therefore, no charges have been filed. The senior pastor, Steve Gaines, learned of the abuse allegation in June but did not inform his church until the victim came forward in December, the report said.
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