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	Former Bedford County Minister Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges WSLS January 29, 2009 http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/former_bedford_county_minister_faces_child_sex_abuse_charges/26215/ A former Bedford County minister is facing child sexual abuse charges, according to Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz. Krantz said Charles Langley, 72, former pastor of Forest United Methodist Church, is charged with three counts of aggravated sexual battery against a child under the age of 13. The charges, Krantz said, are related to incidents said to have taken place between April and December of 2007. United Methodist Church District Superintendent Larry Davies said Langley was removed as pastor in late 2007, when authorities began investigating the complaints. Krantz said that the child was not affiliated with Langley through the church. Davies said though the church removed Langley from authority, that action did not reflect any judgment on the charges. “We did what churches just have to do nowadays,” Davies said. “We’re doing the best we can to do the right thing, but frankly when a whole church is involved you can’t take risks,” he added. “Hard as it was, we had to do it.” Krantz said that shortly before the family of the child came forward, another family had also accused Langley of sexual abuse of a child, but was unwilling to pursue charges because of the strain it would put on the child. “I’m hopeful that as the first family sees this (case) move forward,” Krantz said, “that they may reconsider.” Davies said Langley had served as pastor of Forest United Methodist Church for a few years prior to his removal, though he wasn’t sure how many. “We just felt like we couldn’t ignore that kind of charge,” Davies said. Langley was arrested in North Carolina, according to Krantz, where he had been living after being relieved of his position. Krantz said charges have been certified to a grand jury after Langley’s preliminary hearing last week.
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