Tampa Bay's 10
November 4, 2007
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/specials/popular/article.aspx?s=popular&storyid=66375
Lakeland, Florida – The Lakeland Police Department is currently working an ongoing criminal investigation involving allegations of abuse at The First Baptist Church at the Mall. On Friday, November 2, Marshal Seymour, 40, turned himself into police. FDLE was looking for Seymour in connection with sexual offenses he allegedly committed while a volunteer youth minister.
Reports of these allegations were brought forth by an alleged victim who is now an adult. Police report they are looking into the abuse of middle school to high school aged students who currently attend The First Baptist Church at the Mall, or who have attended the church in the past.
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| Marshal A. Seymour |
"As a church, we are all hurting deeply. We never felt the reality and pain of living in a broken world, as we do right now," says Jay Dennis the pastor at the church.
Police say Seymour met his victims through the church and paid them money in exchange for inappropriate sexual conduct or to keep quiet about sexual encounters after they occured. Investigators say the boys were 15, 16, and 17 when the abuse took place.
"All three met him at church during a Sunday school class, and there, he built a relationship with them," says Sgt. Gary Gross, Lakeland Police Department.
Seymour is charged with unlawful sexual activity, tampering with physical evidence, and using a child in sexual performance.
According to police, the Church is cooperating in the ongoing investigation.
"Some may ask, Pastor, didn't you suspect anything? And I will tell you, my own son worked for him several years ago, and I would never have allowed that if I had any doubts or suspicions about this man," says Dennis.
The church says it ran two background checks on Marshal before he was allowed to volunteer and both came back clean. The church is now vowing to review its safety and security policies. Its executive director says, it will find a way to forgive.
"The church is not a perfect place. We're a place that is here for healing and for counseling and strength and a place of worship. Yeah, while this will be difficult, and these will be deep waters for us, even as believers. I'm sure that's something we would do," says Tim Parcheta, Executive Director of The First Baptist Church at the Mall.
Seymour is also accused of tampering with evidence. Investigators say he asked a hotel employee to destroy any record of his being there. Investigators also say, despite the clean background check the church found, Seymour does have a criminal background. He was accused of molesting a teenaged boy in Mobile, Alabama back in 1998. It happened while he was working as a church volunteer.
Anyone who has knowledge of victimization regarding this investigation should contact Sergeant Gary Gross, Lakeland Police Department, at (863) 834-8980.
Click here to view the arrest report.
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