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	Gig Harbor: Former Pastor Sentenced to at Least 111/2 Years for Child Rape The News Tribune October 13, 2007 http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/crime/story/178179.html A former Gig Harbor pastor who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young relative was sentenced Friday to at least 111/2 years in prison. Stephen Philip Kerr, 31, entered the plea in June to two counts of first-degree child rape. Pierce County prosecutors originally charged Kerr with four counts of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation. Until shortly before his arrest in early May, Kerr had served as senior pastor of Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene. He'd been in the position for about two years. He voluntarily handed over his ministerial credentials when the allegations surfaced. Prosecutors said Kerr tried to have intercourse with a 7-year-old girl, fondled her and showed her sexual movies. As a convicted sex offender, Kerr will be evaluated by the state Department of Corrections to determine whether he can be safely released into the community. If not, then he will continue to be held in prison. If released, he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and will be on lifelong probation. He also will be under court order not to contact the child unless allowed to by a judge.
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