By Carson Clark and Claire Aiello
WHNT
May 22, 2009
http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-billy-masters-sex-abuse-charges-52209,0,7689752.story
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| Billy Masters |
Billy Masters, 66, was reportedly a preacher at Harvest Baptist Church in Kilpatrick
DEKALB COUNTY - A 66-year-old man in DeKalb County is charged with first-degree sexual abuse following an alleged incident involving a 12-year-old boy.
Billy Masters, of Aroney, was reportedly a preacher at Harvest Baptist Church in the Kilpatrick area. The boy was a member of the church congregation.
This isn't the first time Masters has been in trouble with the law for sex charges involving children. He was convicted in 2001 of sodomy.
In his current arrest, DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris says someone reported an incident to Sheriff's Investigator Mary Waters in January 2009. Waters checked in to the matter, and searched Masters' home about a month ago, seizing Masters' computer. However, it appeared the hard drive on the computer had recently been removed and a new drive installed.
A warrant for Masters' arrest was issued Friday afternoon, and deputies arrested him at his home. He is being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center without bond.
In 2001, WHNT NEWS 19 reported that Masters was convicted of sodomy against three male victims. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sodomy and one count of sexual abuse. Judge David Rains sentenced Masters to 15 years for each sodomy charge and 10 years for the sexual abuse count. The sentences were to run concurrently. Masters was also ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to each of the victims.
Masters served time in prison, but was released in 2007. He had a parole hearing, and no one showed up to speak out against his early release.
Sheriff Harris says Masters registered with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, and was up to date on his registration at the time of Friday's arrest.
Masters will also face charges related to violating his parole from the earlier conviction.
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