By Chelsi Zash
Digtriad
March 6, 2009
http://www.digtriad.com/news/most_popular/article.aspx?storyid=120339&provider=top
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High Point, NC -- High Point police say the youth pastor and athletic director for a local church was arrested on multiple sex counts with a minor.
Benjamin Douglas Caldwell, 29, was arrested after police received a 911 call about a sexual assault that just occurred on the west side of High Point.
Police say the suspect was being detained in the victim's home at the time of the call. Lt. Myers with the High Point Police Department could not release exactly how the suspect was detained.
Investigators found the assaults had been going on for the past three months.
During an interview, police say Caldwell admitted to multiple counts of Statutory Rape, Statutory Sex Offense and Taking Indecent Liberties With a Minor.
He was charged with was charged with 6-counts of Statutory Rape of a 14 Year Old, 3-counts of Statutory Sex Offense of a 14 Year Old and 8-counts of Taking Indecent Liberties With a Minor.
Caldwell is currently being held under a $500,000 bond.
Police say Caldwell also admitted he was the youth pastor of Hayworth Wesleyan Church and the Athletic Director of Hayworth Christian School. According to the church's pastor, David Emery, Caldwell has been dismissed from his duties. Emery also said the victim was not a student at the school or church.
Update:
Late Friday afternoon the Pastor of the church told WFMY News 2's Kerri Hartsfield that Caldwell has been fired. He said the teenager was not enrolled in their school and was not a member of the church.
Investigators with High Point Police say Benjamin Caldwell confessed to the crime once he was in custody. They say it was a family member who caught and held him in the home until police arrived.
This is an ongoing investigation and if anyone has information related to this case, please contact Detective Thompson at (336)887-7864.
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