By Millard K. Ives
Daily Commercial
January 10, 2009
http://www.dailycommercial.com/LocalNews/011009pastor
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| Michael E. Kennedy |
WILDWOOD -- A pastor was arrested Friday on accusations of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenaged girl.
Michael E. Kennedy, 51, of Mount Dora, was charged with two counts of sexual battery. He was being held at the Lake County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Kennedy is a pastor at the Ebenezer Royal African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wildwood, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Herrell said the victim, who is now 19, said that Kennedy began sexually abusing her when she was around 13 years old, with it ending in her 9th grade year.
Herrell would not give the relationship between the two, other than they are relatives.
The accusations were presented to the sheriff's office, apparently after the girl wrote a letter to another relative on Dec. 23 of last year, detailing the past alleged abuse -- and the relative reported it.
The relative told investigators she had confronted Kennedy with the letter, and the suspect allegedly said he was sorry and didn't mean to hurt her -- and that God had forgiven him for the sexual abuse and that the victim needed to as well.
Herrell said on investigators had the victim to call Kennedy on Monday in their presence.
According to the arrest affidavit, Kennedy allegedly said "everyone makes mistakes, he regretted it but can't change it, and all you can do is pray to God to help people whose life you might have affected."
Kennedy also allegedly said that at the time of the abuse, the girl was having trouble in school and he only wanted to reach out and help.
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